Rourou
England
I have a friend who’s totally obsessed with Kimura Takuya therefore she insisted that I should watch this since it contains sports. As a result, this was my first Kimmy drama.
2) Storyline/Plot:
*Generally speaking, this is a drama related to sports wrapped up with romance and humour.
Positive points:
*It was very well written, events were connected in harmony while developments seemed catching whether they were good or bad.
*Main Genres:
--->Sports: Oh my, sports!! One of the reasons I started watching this. The story of the hockey team was intriguing; even though script writers didn’t fully focus on hockey’s activities but it had a fair share of the storyline’s development; scenes on the rink were always remarkable which made every game important no matter what’s the bet.
Hockey was the core of this drama that’s why it’s hard to imagine it without sports.
--->Romance: The romantic concept was good enough to fit in with sports. The combination made sense since there were a lot of connections between hockey game and love game.
Sometimes, the main romantic story may lack progress but it doesn’t last for long plus side romantic stories were always good to watch.
--->Humour: Some of us may not understand Japanese humour yet it wasn’t annoying to watch. Funny scenes were present to make this drama light-hearted that’s why comedy was appreciated in here.
Negative Points:
--->Drama: Overly dramatic scenes don’t fit with sports, at least not here. Side characters dramatic stories were overdone sometimes which made the storyline go astray in some points.
However, that didn’t affect the whole drama’s concept.
Story: 8.5/10.
3) Acting/Cast:
*Like I said earlier this was the drama that introduced Kimura Takuya to me; his acting was good enough but his charisma was mind-blowing in here. The role fitted him perfectly since he managed to make it sound his real self.
Takeuchi Yuko was always a magnificent Japanese actress no matter what’s her role. Here, she shined as usual.
Other actors were terrific; there weren’t any flaws to mention.
*As for characters, Halu was absorbing in here; you would want to see more of him on screen. Though, it was exaggerating to involve him in every problem but he’s the captain and this drama’s star so no problem.
Aki is a perfect lead character for a romantic-sports drama; she’s normal but catching at the same time.
Other characters were pleasant not only as a background for the main couples but also as enjoyable characters to watch. Anyhow, I believe that the strength of Jdramas comes from the multiplicity of characters.
*Appreciated characters: Makoto Tomo because they always had adorable scenes with Halu especially the latter.
*Relationships:
--->Team relationships: Whether it was Halu-coach or captain-team; relationships within the Blue Scorpions were captivating no matter how much you see it. Moreover, there was special friendship between some team members which made the team concept sounds really cool.
--->Romance: Halu and Aki had the most absorbing chemistry ever!! Even side romantic stories had good chemistry.
--->Friendship: Beside team friendship, Aki and her two friends had a respectable relationship as a group of girls. Well, it wasn’t very satisfying like the men relationship.
Cast: 9/10.
Acting: 8.5/10.
4) The ending:
I found happiness in the ending; not the usual happy ending that will pass like the wind but the type of ending that will bring you joy when you watch it.
The ending: 9/10.
5) My impression (How did it affect me):
*I watched this drama back in 2010 while it aired in 2004 but I wasn’t bothered with its old cinematography because it was simply amazing.
*Sports are always my “thing” no matter what’s the type of sport because I like that enthusiasm which appears in athletes eyes. Furthermore, the combination of sports and romance was always a great mixture to me *thinking of Buzzer Beat*
*This drama was the reason that made me fall in love with KimuTaku and watch more of his dramas.
*Is this drama memorable: Yes! The combination of sports and romance is extremely unforgettable for me.
My impression: 9/10.
6) Overall:
*If you like sports mixed with romance then you would love this.
*If you like Kimura Takuya then you have to watch this.
*If you like wonderful romantic stories then you might like this.
*Pride was a marvellous sports drama that had a great romantic concept while being faithful to J-Dramas’ comedy.
Overall: 9/10.
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The main reason was Yoon Eun Hye since I like her acting in romantic comedy roles.
2) Storyline/Plot:
*This is your usual rich-poor romantic comedy; a lot of cheesy scenes in here.
Positive Points:
*The cinematography was appreciated in here; it had many great backgrounds all the way through.
*Main Genres:
--->Comedy: I can’t literally say that it was very funny but it was acceptable on the general scale. There were some hilarious scenes every once in awhile but they weren’t very special.
You’re probably wondering why I mentioned it as a positive point while I stated many negatives; because the drama wasn’t that boring.
Negative Points:
--->Romance: It was very common. Let’s be honest, everyone of you saw a rich-poor romantic story, an arrogant and Cinderella, a hopeless triangle and I am sure that you’ve seen a contract drama before that’s why this drama’s romantic development had nothing extraordinary to talk about. Anyway, that’s how the majority of Korean rom-coms are set.
*This drama’s storyline was really predictable; there weren’t any events that felt surprising or special.
*Near the ending, the story became annoyingly dragged.
Story: 5/10.
3) Acting/Cast:
*The reason I started this drama was Yoon Eun Hye and I wasn’t disappointed with her performance. She’s a skilful actress that knows how to portray romantic comedy roles.
Kang Ji Hwan had respectable acting skills too but he wasn’t that great compared to Eun Hye.
Other actors weren’t very special, no exceptional feelings about any of them.
*As for character Ah Jung and Ki joon were ordinary main characters that you can find in any other Korean romantic comedy. Well, extra credits for Ah Jung as she felt more interesting than Ki Joon.
*Other characters were normal and up to standard but common.
*Appreciated character: Can I say “NONE”? I really don’t have any character that I appreciated here, not even a single one.
*Relationships:
--->Romance: The chemistry felt natural and intriguing; sometimes fluffy and even sexy: it was good to see on screen which is all due to the main actors’ harmony.
--->The triangle: It’s your common Korean triangle with a nice second lead male. Well, the second lead female wasn’t that wicked.
Cast: 7.5/10.
Acting: 8.5/10.
4) The ending:
It was unsurprising and expected plus it had one of the most ordinary ending scenes. Shall I say more?
The ending: 5/10.
5) My impression (How did it affect me):
*It felt like watching a rewind from many dramas that I’ve seen before. I lost the drama’s taste because everything about it was predictable.
*The drama was light but I have to admit that I fast-forward many parts in order to make watching hours manageable.
*Is the drama memorable: No, I don’t think so because it’s too common; nothing special about it.
My conclusion after watching this drama: I need to stop watching Korean romantic comedy for awhile. Taken as a whole, I became so sick of these “same plot” romantic comedies; the whole concept grew to be so dumb to me that’s why I really need to stop watching them or I will lose my “drama mood”.
My impression: 4/10.
6) Overall:
*If you’re a big fan of romantic comedies then you would like this.
*If you’re looking for a unique and mature romantic comedy then don’t watch this.
*Lie to Me was light drama in some ways but it was predictable and full of cliché/cheesy scenes in many ways.
Overall: 5/10
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The first reason was Yamapi then I read about it in a well written blog by a friend of mine therefore I decided to give it a try.
2) Storyline/Plot:
*Generally speaking, it's a romantic story wrapped up with some comedy and let's not forget the fantasy element represented by the "fairy".
Positive Points:
*I can't think of many positive points in this drama but let's speak about the main genres present here:
--->Humor: I think it's the only element that I appreciated it while watching the drama, it's not like I laughed so hard but the funny scenes thrown every once in a while were good to watch even though they weren't freakily present but the random choice of humor was good.
Negative Points:
--->Romance: Considering the fact that this is a romantic story, I haven't felt the romantic atmosphere till the last episodes, I kept waiting and waiting for something lightening to happen yet it was practically the same each episode: No major changing, that's why after watching the first 3 episodes I knew that I have to wait for the end to see the major changing when it comes to romance.
*The story development was really slow as annoyingly slow; you know how the episode will begin and how it will end. The last 3 episodes of the dramas were the most important ones when it comes to story development, other than that it was moving like a turtle.
Story rating 5.5/10
2) Acting/Cast:
*Yamashita Tomohisa:
So Yamapi is one of my favorite actors, he's the sort of actor that I feel happy when I see him on screen not to forget that he's one of the main reasons why I started watching this drama.
Now let's be objective; no matter how much I like Yamapi I have to admit that his acting was really poor in this drama, I haven't felt anything, it's like he haven't delivered a thing that can touch me: Sad but true.
Ken character wasn't good, I liked it at some points but I quickly lost interest in it, the main reason is the slow movement of the drama that made it so dull.
*Nagasawa Masami:
I am not familiar with her as an actress, I hate to admit this but when it comes to acting she was better than Yamapi but that doesn't mean that she was dazzling; she was acceptable.
When it comes to Rei, she was really annoying as a character, I didn't like the character development; it was really bothersome to watch.
*Other Cast: Some the supporting roles lacked development (such as Mikio's character), some of them were fun to watch (Hisashi) and the rest weren't bad; acceptable overall.
*Relationships:
--->Friendship: The only relationship that I appreciated while watching this drama, I enjoyed watching the friendship between Ken, Rei, Mikio, Hisashi and Eri; it seemed pure and pretty strong in a way that makes you want to see more scenes were those 5 are gathered.
--->Romance: I haven't felt any chemistry so it wasn't that great but again it's all due to the slow development of the storyline.
--->The triangle: When I speak about the triangle I would say that it existed while it haven't actually exist; Cryptic right? Well, that's because there wasn't the usual feelings of a triangle when you see Ken, Rei and Tetsuya.
Cast: 8/10
Acting: 6/10.
3) The ending:
"I made it!!" That's what I was thinking when I finished the drama. I knew from the beginning that the major development and the "jump" of the drama will happen at the end, it was all expected.
Since there was a Special after this drama, I don't think it would be considered as an ending yet both of the drama and the Special endings weren't any different.
The ending: 7.5/10.
4) My Impression (How did it affect me):
*This drama had one of the slowest storyline's developments out of all dramas that I’ve seen so far. As a person that have the lowest level of patience, it really played with my nerves, I won't deny that I skipped many parts because like I said you know how every episode will begin and how it will end.
*It's one of those dramas that I wanted to reach the last episode to find out what will happen (even though I already anticipated it), I just wanted to finish and get over with it. It was simply one of the boring dramas that I’ve seen.
*Is this drama memorable: Partly yes. Even though I didn't like this drama, I will remember those boring feelings that I had while watching this and I will remember not to recommend it to anyone that has a slow patience level.
My impression: 4/10.
5) Overall:
*If you're die-hard Yamapi fan then you will like this.
*If you don't mind slow development then you may like this.
*Proposal Daikusen is a drama that you have to wait for the last episode to see the major change; if you don't mind that then I think you won't hate this.
Overall: 6/10.
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I discovered it by mere chance while I was searching through some Asian sites.
“A miserable girl because of her irresistible beauty... Is her beauty the Blessing? Or the Curse? »: this line reminded me of a similar case in my real life that’s why I decided to watch this.
2) Storyline/Plot:
*This is a different unique storyline that touches a sensitive subject especially to women species which is Beauty.
In this review, I won’t talk about main genres because it’s a dramatic film (only one genre).
Positive Points:
*This film had an uncommon concept which made it absorbing and beautiful in too many ways; the storyline felt atypical in an intriguing way.
*The film touched a common issue (beauty) and made it unusual; the storyline conveyed an interesting point of view about beauty whether it was obsession or dissatisfaction; everything about this matter seemed appealing.
*This film’s plot makes you want to know more, its events can release the curiosity within you that’s why you can never lose interest in the storyline’s development.
Negative Points:
For me there weren’t any negative points to talk about but I will mention some points that felt negative to the majority of the audience:
*This film contains some serious disturbing scenes which can make you feel disgusted that’s why I will point out that this film is directed for adult audience only.
Story: 10/10.
3) Acting/Cast:
*The acting department was extremely good, I am not familiar with any of them but the lead female delivered great feelings while portraying the role. Although, she doesn’t have the breathtaking beauty but she had the great skills to make the role feel believable.
Other actors were good too, their acting was convincing.
*Characters were attention-grabbing especially Eun Young who was a great main character; she managed to be interesting no matter what’s her state. Furthermore, the character development was fascinating in a way to make you sympathize with her at some points, hate her at other points but most of all you would feel her.
*Other characters were important for the storyline’s development; all the reactions that we get to see were simply mesmerizing in terms of beauty.
*Appreciated character: The policeman had a critical character here; if he didn’t exist then Eun Young would be on her own. He was struggling in his own way too, I liked that character.
*Relationships:
--->Eun Young and the policeman: It was charming while being dangerous; this relationship was appreciated because it was convincing on too many levels.
--->Eun Young Vs the world: This relationship was the core of this film; it conveyed too many strong messages to viewers.
Cast: 8/10.
Acting: 9/10.
4) The ending:
The film’s ending was logical; you wouldn’t expect a fluffy ending for this type of storyline. The ending scene was very creative and disturbing at the same time.
The ending: 8.5/10.
5) My impression (How did it affect me):
*Like I mentioned earlier, this film’s storyline’s is similar to a person who’s close to me that’s why I was very invested in its events. However, personal reasons were only a part of my liking because this film has a very interesting and unique storyline.
*Is this film memorable: Yes it is, it was a different story with an unusual topic that deserves to be remembered.
My impression: 8.5/10.
6) Overall:
*If you like different unique storylines then you may like this.
*If you’re easily disturbed then you may not like this.
*If you’re not a proper adult then I wouldn’t recommend this.
*Beautiful was a film that contained a different storyline with a brilliant lead female actress who knew how to make it appealing.
Overall: 8.5/10.
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At the time, I watched many stupid romantic comedies so I needed something different from those usual dumb stories and so I found this drama somewhere. I read the synopsis that seemed appealing enough to give it a go with a medium level of expectations.
2) Storyline/Plot:
*Generally speaking this is a rom-com with a psychological aspect. The drama contains several twists that makes the storyline catching.
Positive Points:
*At the beginning (First 15 minutes), everything started really slow that I began to lose interest yet the writers were clever enough to take the story into another different level that attracted my intention.
*The story was captivating all the way through, it was short, psychologically romantic and most of all funny that’s why it hadn’t any dragging or slow moments.
*Main genres:
--->Romance: The romantic aspect in this drama is different from any other romantic comedies that I’ve seen before; there were mature feelings in this drama, the kind of feelings that go deeper and deeper each episode yet it doesn’t fall into the melodrama level since there were childish moments to make it light. I have to give the script writers credit for many "Wait, what happened?" moments while following the romantic development, many plot changes were really surprising and added a great taste to the storyline.
--->Humor: This drama’s funny scenes were smartly written, it was light and enjoyable. Like other Japanese dramas, it was ridiculously fun with all the weird situations.
--->Psychology: The romantic psychology was fairly interesting; there were many strange and sweet situations related to many great philosophic minds in this drama. The psychological cliffhangers were simply amazing, writers managed to keep all the twists captivating by inserting psychology into it.
Negative Points:
*I can’t possibly think about a negative point in this drama’s storyline; it was really great.
Story: 9.5/10.
3) Acting/Cast:
*Actors made it really believable and enjoyable; they knew how to deliver feelings even when they are trying to be funny. Matsuda Shota and Akira are the most talented actors here; I will add Tanihara Shosuke who portrayed the psychiatrist role perfectly.
Other actors were good too but I wasn’t touched by their acting skills like the three mentioned above.
*As for characters, you would get invested in every character since they always showed interesting developments into their personalities.
Ai-Ai was a great character that portrayed a strong woman personality while having the feminine feelings when she needed too: I would say that her character can represent woman power.
--->O-Chan was a character that would make you want to see him more on screen; it was really nicely done with good personality developments.
--->Kiku-rin was the strongest character in this drama, it manages to make you love him, hate him then love him again: It was a challenging character that added a great storyline development.
--->Usami was a weak character (basing on the storyline so it has nothing to do with Tamaki Hiroshi’s acting skills), it had many flaws but it managed to get through near the end.
Other characters were either average or annoying (……)
*Appreciated character: I was attracted by Kairi’s darkness especially near the end; it was a very appealing character to me.
*Relationships:
--->Romance: Since it’s a shuffle we can’t talk about specific couples yet there were chemistry all over the drama with all those intriguing feelings.
--->Friendship: It was present in a good way here, ever since the first episodes there were many signs of good friendship which made characters appear in a great harmony even if there were problems every once in a while.
*Favorite line: Uso da to itte yo, Joe!
Cast: 9/10.
Acting: 9/10.
4) The ending:
Well, it seemed a little unnatural but that doesn’t mean it was bad. Anyway, this drama had a good ending overall.
The ending: 8/10.
5) My impression (How did it affect me):
*Watching this drama was really fun, I got to see a mature drama after a long time so I had great feels about it.
*Is this drama memorable: Yes, It is! Who wouldn’t remember watching a great mature drama with superb actors and awesome characters? This drama touched me in a good way, an unforgettable production indeed.
My impression: 8.75/10.
6) Overall:
*If you’re looking for a mature drama then you should watch this.
*If you’re looking for a great romantic J-drama then you may like this.
*Love Shuffle is a short light drama without any shallow feelings. It’s one of those dramas that are directed to the mature audience out there.
Overall: 9/10.
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I’ve seen the anime so I was excited to see the film adaptation.
2) Storyline/Plot:
*I already saw the anime so the story was known to me; I would say it was a fast forward script from the one in the anime. Writers cut the 26 episodes in a two hours film which made it lose so many cores compared to the original one.
*Now the review for those who haven’t watched the anime or read the manga:
Positive points:
*The film was a light school romantic story wrapped up with some melodramatic feelings without falling into the tragedy level. It actually belongs to the “Slice of life” category.
*Main genres:
--->Romance: Like any slice of life melodramatic story, the romantic concept was sad while being innocent; it was interesting because the plot was divided between the past and the present.
However, the romantic development was way too fast to contain a lot of depth yet the important feelings were there.
--->Life: There were those moments where you feel that this story touches real life; it makes you think about your first love, your first relationship and the tragedies that can happen anytime when you least expect it. Although it was important to have those elements that touches life but the existence of hope is what made it more appealing.
--->School: It’s your usual Japanese school drama, it was an important concept to make plot changes happen.
Negative Points:
*It was very fast, it doesn’t leave you time to think about the story’s core. I did rather that they made it into a drama instead of a film.
Story: 7.5/10.
3) Acting/Cast:
*It was really good to see Ikuta Toma in this film since it has been a long time that I saw him in something; his Yano portrayal was actually quite well.
On the other hand, Yoshitaka Yuriko was good enough to keep me interested but I can’t say the same about the rest of the cast because many actors didn’t deliver enough feelings to make it sound real.
*As for characters, they were brought to life but I have to admit that they lacked depth in many aspects and it all goes back to the fast forward storyline.
Yano was a good character but it didn’t have many sadness moments like it’s supposed to.
Takahashi was less annoying than the anime (which is a good point).
I hated the way Takeuchi character appeared here, it was uninteresting when it’s supposed to be one of the most captivating characters in the story but again it’s all due to the fast script.
*Other characters were simply neuter to watch, no special feelings about them.
*Appreciated Character: Yamamoto Yuri was an impressive character here because many plot changes depended on her existence.
*Relationships:
--->Romance: The romantic concept was good enough but it lacked depth so the chemistry wasn’t that great.
--->Friendship: This is a school drama so it’s supposed to have many friendships yet there weren’t many moments to talk about.
--->The triangle: The one that had Yamamoto Yuri was interesting but the one with Takeuchi was simply ridiculous to watch.
Cast: 7/10.
Acting: 8/10.
4) The ending
*There’s Bokura Ga Ita Kouhen so this can’t be considered as an ending that’s why I won’t rate it for now.
5) My impression (how did it affect me):
*To start with I was impatiently waiting for this film to come out, I wasn’t fully satisfied but I wasn’t disappointed either because it was fair enough compared to the anime.
*It felt good to see some characters come to life while others seemed really annoying plus I was bothered by the quick script; the fast events didn’t allow me to feel the depth of tragedies presented in this storyline.
*Is this film memorable: Maybe, I am not sure if I should remember this because I rather remembering the anime instead. However, I may change my mind after watching Part two.
My impression: 7/10.
6) Overall:
*If you like innocent romantic school dramas then you would like this.
*If you watched the anime then you may want to give this a go.
*Bokura Ga Ita Zenpen was a good film on the emotional scale, it had many interesting turns but it was rushed in many plot changes. Overall, it was faithful enough as a live action adaptation.
Overall: 8/10.
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It has been a long time since I’ve seen Oguri Shun so it felt right to watch his comeback drama.
2) Storyline/Plot:
*Generally speaking, the storyline wasn’t that unique except the creative side.
Positive points
*Everything related to invention, the company or smart minds was captivating because it created a special aspect around the normal romantic comedy storyline.
*It wasn’t dragging which made it exempt of slow moments.
*Main genres:
--->Romance: It belongs to the “Rich Man Poor Woman” cliche so I can’t possibly say that the romantic side was unique or special. However, that doesn’t mean it lost taste since it was interesting at some points plus it had good plot changes.
Romance was average (+) that’s why I decided to mention it in the “Positive Points” column.
Negative Points:
--->Humor: Honestly speaking, the comedy didn’t deliver much to talk about; it was lacking for a rom-com J-drama. Funny scenes were almost absent but there were some ridiculous scenes that can make it feel childish sometimes.
The story: 7/10.
3) Acting/Cast:
*So like I said earlier Oguri Shun was the main reason that made me watch this drama. I got to see a different side of him in here; his role was portrayed in a good way.
Ishihara Satomi was good too, there were good vibes coming out of her acting.
The remaining cast had respectable acting skills so no complains.
*As for characters, Hyuga Toru was an attractive character whether it was strong or weak you would feel invested in everything he does. The character strength made it appealing in many ways.
Natsui was your average romantic comedy heroine, there were nothing special about the character overall since it was plainly predictable.
*The remaining characters had interesting scenes every once in a while but they weren’t very captivating.
*Appreciated character: Asahina made this drama interesting; if he was the usual second lead male this would’ve been very boring. Asahina created amazing plot changes that would make you adjust your feelings about him several times that’s why he’s appreciated in my point of view.
*Relationships:
--->Romance: There was good chemistry between the main characters but there was an interesting chemistry between the lead male and the second lead female too.
--->Friendship: It was set up in an amazing way. It’s not the usual J-dramas friendship since it had many twists and changes.
--->The triangle: It was a usual triangle but it was less serious than others.
Cast: 8/10.
Acting: 8.5/10.
4) The ending:
It’s true that it was a common cliché but no one would’ve appreciate it if it ended otherwise.
The ending: 6.5/10.
5) My impression (How did it affect me):
*I had shallow feelings while watching this drama; after all I started it because of Oguri Shun but it doesn’t mean that I only appreciated Oguri here.
*I can’t possibly say that I loved this drama; it was plainly average in my point of view. It’s true that I had a little fun but I wasn’t touched that deeply because I always thought of it as a normal romantic comedy; it can’t possibly be a mature one like some other masterpieces produced in Japan.
*Is this drama memorable: I don’t think so, I may remember some moments of it but I don’t believe it deserve a spot in my “unforgettable dramas” list.
Note: I really liked the opening theme song mainly because its lyrics are so encouraging and adapts the drama perfectly.
My impression: 5/10.
6) Overall:
*If you like Oguri Shun then watch this because you’ll get to see a different side of him in here.
*If you like Japanese romantic comedies then give this a try.
*Rich Man Poor Woman was a respectable drama with a decent storyline along with good actors which made it watchable and somehow enjoyable.
Overall’s rating 7.5/10.
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At the beginning I never considered watching this drama but later on many friends kept recommending it and asking for my opinion about it thus I decided to give it a go.
Note: I just completed this drama (Three days Dramathon) that’s why I decided to write a review while it’s still fresh.
2) Storyline/Plot:
*The drama script is the reason that made this drama unique and appealing. It had an unusual plot that’s why it seemed very intriguing.
Positive Points:
*The drama’s concept is a huge positive point that counts for this drama, there were too many interesting twists related to the drama’s general aspect.
*Main Genres:
--->Drama: The dramatic side was plainly present which made the storyline full of touchy feelings that can get through too many hearts out there; there were a respectable amount of melodramatic moments that would make you tear. However, the drama didn’t fall into the tragedy level which is a good point.
--->Fantasy: This was the most important element in the drama (I would’ve dropped it if it was absent); supernatural events were this drama’s core and the reason that made too many twists happen. I just can’t imagine this drama without Fantasy or supernatural actions.
Negative Points:
--->Romance: To start with, don’t watch this drama if you’re searching for a fluffy romantic story. Actually, don’t watch this drama if you’re looking for any romantic story.
If you keep waiting for the romantic development then you’d feel very annoyed as you won’t get what you want. Although it doesn’t mean that romantic stories were completely off because they weren’t but you shouldn’t watch this drama basing on the romantic concept.
Note: I didn’t hate romance in this drama but I can’t possibly consider it as a positive point.
*The storyline felt dragging and slow at some points because there weren’t too many plot changes that would make you invested into events.
Story: 8.5/10.
3) Acting/Cast:
*Let me say this, I am barely familiar with this drama’s leading roles but I must say they delivered great feelings.
Lee Yo Won was the actress that touched me deeply in here; she’s really skillful since she was able to successfully portray two characters at the same time, I really liked that.
Gyu Ri was good too but I can’t say she was able to deliver too many touchy feelings the way Yo Won did.
The rest of the cast were genuinely respectable when it comes to their acting skills and the way they portrayed their roles.
*As for characters, Ji Hyun wasn’t very appealing as a character; it makes you think about many annoying innocent lead females in other Korean dramas.
As for Yi Kyung, it was interesting to follow its character development even though she appeared dark in a very bothersome way but her personality was able to repair itself little by little (especially near the ending)
Han Kang wasn’t that great as a lead male, I haven’t sensed those feelings of a strong lead male like it’s supposed to be but I don’t think it’s him to blame because the center of this story was Ji Hyun and Yi Kyung.
*Other cast were good enough, I liked Ji Hyun parents and friends no matter who they are (good or bad) because they added a good taste overall.
*Appreciated character: The scheduler when he’s the reaper! Actually he’s my favorite character in here, the cheerful feelings and appearance he had made the drama very enjoyable. I liked his existence no matter where or when because he added soul to this drama’s general concept.
*Relationships:
--->Romance: Although the storyline didn’t have too many romantic developments, the chemistry wasn’t fully absent.
--->Ji Hyun and Yi Kyun: This was the most interesting and captivating relationship in the whole drama, I just love the plot twists related to their relationship. Moreover, I liked the developments and hardships that those two characters had to go through.
--->The triangle: Although this is close to your usual Korean drama triangle, it felt different somehow.
Cast: 8/10
Acting: 8.5/10
4) The ending:
I can understand why everyone is upset about the ending. Honestly speaking, it was a very realistic because if it ended otherwise, it wouldn’t be impressive. Moreover, if it ended the way everyone wants it to be then it would’ve been a very shallow fan-service ending.
The ending: 9/10.
5) My impression (How did affect me):
*This is my subjective space so let me say this: I haven’t enjoyed this drama the way everyone did; it wasn’t boring but it wasn’t that impressive too.
*While watching this I was only interested in the result of the 49 days, the hardships of soul-changing and most of all, Ji Hyun and Yi Kyun relationship. Other than that, it wasn’t that appealing. Oh, and let’s not forget the scheduler he was my favorite character here and the reason that made me go through this drama.
*Is this drama memorable: For the majority, this is an unforgettable drama but for me it isn’t except the details that I mentioned earlier (Ji Hyun, Yi Kyun relationship and the scheduler).
My impression: 7/10.
6) Overall:
*If you like supernatural dramatic stories then watch this.
*If you’re looking for a different drama then you may like this.
*49 Days is a drama that’s full of deep feelings wrapped up with a supernatural concept while containing some fascinating twists.
Overall: 8.5/10.
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I watched all versions of Hana Kimi, thus I wanted to discover the Korean incarnation.
2) Storyline/Plot:
*I already knew the general story which means that I didn’t try to discover it (predictable). I will basically compare storylines and plot changes.
Positive Points:
*Unlike other versions, this one focused on the romantic side; there were too many fluffy moments that would make the drama more enjoyable. Moreover, this Korean adaptation gave the romantic elements its right to be intensively present.
*This version had the best visual cinematography; yes I had to admit that since other versions didn’t focus on this aspect. I am glad that this one took it into consideration and actually pulled it off in a good way.
Negative Points:
*The huge negative point that I found in this version was the absence of friendship and relationships inside dorms, it was the main element in other versions that’s why I felt betrayal when I didn’t find it here. Yes, the version should stand out but cutting such an important element made the drama lose its taste.
*Another important negative point: The lack of humor; It was an important element too, maybe it wasn’t present in all other versions but here, it felt absent or maybe “left behind”. That was annoying; the lack of funny scenes was simply bothersome because it created many boring moments.
*I hated the fact that script writers wanted to cover up for everything by showing the cute romance the whole time, it felt like cheating the audience and creating fan-service scenes by using Choi Min Ho’s body and Lee Hyun Woo’s face.
*Dragging: The drama fell into dragging especially near the end; that wasn’t nice to watch.
Story: 4/10.
2) Acting/Cast:
*This drama’s cast is mostly singers so you can’t expect to have strong acted scenes plus the storyline didn’t allow actors to show their skills since it focused on the cute side. However, that doesn’t deny that Choi Min Ho, Sully and Lee Hyun Woo did a respectable job in this.
*As for characters, Tae Joon’s Sano was a decent portrayal out of all versions I’ve seen. Goo Jae Hee was average: no love, no hate.
Eun Gyeol character was the worst Nakatsu portrayal mostly because it lacked humor and took the triangle side way too seriously, yes, there were some cute imagination moments but they didn’t last for long. That being said, I have to refer that Hyun Woo was the best actor in this drama, it wasn’t his fault that the storyline made his character more serious than it’s supposed to be.
*Side characters were uninteresting most of the time which was the storyline’s fault for cutting and changing many important characters.
*Appreciated character: Min Hyun Jae because he had a different character from what I remember plus his presence was always good to watch.
*Relationships:
--->Romance: On terms of chemistry, I can’t say that it was the greatest ever but there were many cute and fluffy moments all over the place.
--->Friendship: None! I haven’t felt any friendship between characters except some moments with Eun Gyeol and his roommate. Other than that, it was annoyingly absent.
--->The triangle: It was taken way too seriously than other versions so it felt bothersome to watch.
Cast: 6/10.
Acting: 7/10.
4) The ending:
Finally! I kept waiting for the drama to end ever since the 10th episode. It was a normal ending, no special feelings.
The ending: 6/10.
5) My impression (How did it affect me):
*I was really excited at the beginning but after three or four episodes, I just lost interest somehow.
*This was a disappointing remake for me, I expected a lot from the K-version but I end up watching something pretty and shallow.
*Is this drama memorable: No, I can’t possibly remember this drama because it dragged a lot which made it pretty boring but I may remember the vivid colors and the cuteness overload.
My impression: 3/10.
6) Overall:
*If you’re looking for a cute school drama then you may like this.
*If you watched other Hana Kimi versions and want to see more romance then you would like this.
*If you want something pretty to look at then watch this.
*To the Beautiful You was a cute drama that dragged a lot and delivered nothing when it comes to friendship and school relationships. As a remake it was a disappointment.
Overall: 5/10.
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I’ve been meaning to watch this drama long time ago but obviously I forget about it (I have no idea why) then I found its thread in MDL and decided to give it a chance.
Note: I agree with most points mentioned in the two reviews below but I had to state my opinion.
2)Storyline/Plot:
*Generally speaking this is a smartly written storyline that revolves around the world of crime while having romance as the center of many plot changes.
Positive Points:
*Honestly speaking, twists are the most important part of the storyline since you can’t lose interest while watching; those unpredictable events are the reason that catches the audience attention (especially me).
*Main genres:
--->Crime/Thriller: This is not a detective drama hence don’t be scared by the intensive police meddling into the storyline; it had some crime elements into it but they weren’t that deep to be fully considered as a “Crime drama”.
Thriller was simply astonishing here; it had many great suspense moments which prohibit you from predicting anything. There were a lot of mind-blowing events that you can’t see it coming therefore I have to give writers credit for many “What? When did that happen?” Scenes.
---->Romance: Though it was a little annoying when it comes to changing the spoken language, this was a well written Japanese-Korean romantic story; there were magnificent cultural interactions within the romantic story which made it more and more fascinating.
Other than that, romance had many charming and dangerous turns thus it will never make lose interest while you’re following its events and development.
Negative Points:
*Even if there were some negative points, they didn’t ruin the story’s aspect; they’re acceptable overall.
Story: 9.5/10.
3)Acting/Cast:
*This is a Korean Japanese drama consequently there were actors from both sides which made it more interesting than any other Japanese drama cast.
*Takenouchi Yutaka was always a very respectable actor; he was brilliant as this drama’s lead male because the role matched him so well. As you watch his acting, you’d feel depth which makes you want to see more of him on screen.
I am not familiar with Choi Ji Woo but she made through; her acting was believable and full with feelings which made her completely fitting for this type of role.
The rest of actors were good but not too great; in general, they were up to standard.
*As for characters, Sho/Takumi wasn’t an unusual character (discovering the truth behind the death of his father) still it felt creative and very absorbing no matter what sort of events he went through; whether it was action, romance, suspense, the character conveyed many fascinating feelings.
Yuna was a typical character until unpredictable twists took over. On the whole, the character was appreciated mainly because it leaded an unusual path.
*Other characters were important for the story’s development; I couldn’t imagine this kind of story without their presence.
*Appreciated character: Kim Young Jae because he added a special taste to the storyline plus he was one of the most unpredictable characters out there: More mysterious, more fun!
*Relationships:
--->Romance: One of the most charming chemistries that I’ve seen so far; it’s one of those romantic stories that you want to see more of it on screen but no matter how much you see it, you feel that it’s not enough. The lead actors had a mesmerizing relationship indeed because every scene they have together was absolutely attractive.
--->Sisterhood: I appreciated the relationship between Yuna and her sister; it felt natural and special in many ways.
Cast: 8/10
Acting: 9.25/10.
4)The ending:
It may have fallen into Japanese detective style endings but I haven’t seen it coming no matter how much I think about it, I was thrilled to find out the out-coming of the story.
The ending: 8.5/10.
5)My impression:
*For me, this was a joy ride of pleasant events. I loved this drama simply because it was way too far from my predictable sense; it was really absorbing especially near the end.
*I’ve fallen in love with Yukata in this drama; aside from his astonishing look, I felt a great actor in here: I will definitely watch more of his dramas.
*I was bothered by the bilingual characters in here. Though, I stated that I liked the Korean Japanese interactions but I can’t say that I enjoyed changing the language because I watched this drama Raw which made me get a little lost when they spoke Korean, I can understand Japanese but Korean is just a no (My Korean lingual skills are far behind from my Japanese) but fortunately they translated some of them into Japanese.
*Is this drama memorable: Yes it is, simply because of its unpredictable twisty events that made me enjoy it to the extremes. Nonetheless, I don’t think this is the greatest drama out there since there are many others of the same genre that suppresses it.
My impression: 9/10.
6)Overall:
*If you like crime Japanese dramas with many twists then you will enjoy this.
*If you like great romantic chemistries then you would like this.
*Rondo is a great drama that’s full of enjoyable twists and great actors who knows how to deliver amazing feelings.
Overall: 9/10.
Note: If you were already spoiled, don’t watch this because it makes you lose the taste of its suspense. Another point, I hope you can find subs for this drama because I heard that there weren’t any; it’s a shame that this amazing drama doesn’t get the appropriate attention.
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At the beginning, There were moments where F4 and Makino were together yet there wasn't actually a story to talk about.
You need to watch this before the final movie, if you already watched the film then there's no need to watch it because like I said earlier it's a promote to the fianl film.
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The synopsis felt interesting plus the existence of Jun Ki and Shin Min Ah as leads encouraged me to give it a go.
2) Storyline/Plot:
This is not your usual Sageuk drama; it’s really different from the usual historical productions that you’ve seen before; it has a unique storyline.
Positive Points:
*It was a joyful ride especially at the beginning since there were many intriguing events and characters. Speaking about the main genres in this drama, I will mention:
--->Mystery/Suspense: I believe it was the main element in here; it would’ve become boring without mystery and suspense thrown here and there. Every episode will leave you with many questions and thoughts, it will keep you guessing and anticipating but this element can completely disappear from some episodes , it would’ve been much better if it was present throughout the whole drama.
--->Fantasy/Supernatural: It was good too; the supernatural moments were really enjoyable. It added a different taste to the storyline’s development. The fantasy wasn’t entirely believable but it doesn’t deny the fact that there were many great scenes and characters related to this genre.
--->History: Historical dramas haters don’t run away! Like I said before this isn’t your usual sageuk drama; it didn’t focus on the boring historical elements neither on the usual historical development so it would be much better if you don’t judge it basing on its sageuk background.
Negative Points:
--->Humor: It was hilarious at the beginning then the whole concept faded away as the episodes went on. I was disappointed in this genre because I expected more yet its absence didn’t ruin the drama.
--->Romance: I never considered this drama as a romantic drama since there was a huge lack of romantic development. Well, it wasn’t entirely off since we had great scenes thrown every once in awhile but I wouldn’t call it “A romantic drama”.
*The storyline can get really slow and the plot twists can be completely absent in couple of episodes which makes it so boring at some points.
Story: 8.5/10.
3) Acting/Cast:
*I was delighted to see Jun Ki and Shin Min Ah together in a production; I expected a lot from the both of them and I was proven right after watching this drama. Both actors, delivered great emotions and portrayed great roles.
*As for characters, Arang’s first episodes character was much better than afterwards; it’s not like the character was ruined but it felt more serious which made it less interesting.
Eun Oh’s character was good throughout the whole drama; yes it was stiff and arrogant but still captivating and charming in some ways and let’s not forget the nice character development that the magistrate personality went through.
*The rest of the cast was great overall, some good actors and characters appeared in here.
*Appreciated characters: Ju Wal and Moo Young because they added an appealing atmosphere to the general storyline.
*Relationships:
--->Romance: There were some great chemistry moments but it wasn’t the kind of chemistry that would make you jump off your seat.
Cast: 9/10.
Acting: 9.5/10.
4) The ending:
I have to admit that the ending surprised me; I never expected this genre of drama to end that way. Don’t worry, it was good but I still think it was fan-service.
The ending: 8/10.
5) My impression (How did it affect me):
*At the beginning, I was really obsessed with this drama but I was annoyed with slow moments afterwards yet I haven’t lost interest.
*I was mostly invested with the mystery/suspense elements so when it was absent, I felt a lot of emptiness yet fantasy can fill that blank sometimes. However, I would’ve never given it a try if those elements were absent (especially mystery/suspense).
*Is this drama memorable: Yes, simply because it had a unique storyline. I think that I will only remember the great suspense and mysterious events because honestly speaking; romance didn’t deliver a lot of feelings that deserve to be remembered.
My impression: 8/10.
6) Overall:
*If you like Mystery/Suspense dramas then you should give this a go.
*If you like supernatural dramas, you would enjoy this.
*If you like Jun Ki then you have to watch this because you will get to see a different side of him.
*Arang and the magistrate was a drama that had different genres wrapped up in one story, it may not sound like a great combination but it felt differently creative from any other sageuk drama.
Overall: 8.5/10.
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Strictly because of the fuss that went around this drama which is something I rarely do but at the time, I wanted to know the reason that made this drama rank #1.
2) Storyline/Plot:
I would say that this is one of the most unique storylines out there; it's really rare to find this type of story in Korean dramas industry that's why it seemed intriguing to watch.
Positive Points:
*Even though the main topic was about Kpop culture, the storyline didn’t ignore other important angles. Yes, I was trying to be objective and look away from Kpop madness in this drama yet I don't believe I was bothered by that element simply because it felt like a core here.
*Smart writing: Yes, script writers are brilliant; they can change time and space within a fraction of a second but you can never lose interest in events. Even though it’s not a time travelling drama, events between the past and the present were really great, it makes you ask a lot of questions while creating that beautiful feeling of noble anticipation.
The script felt natural, it was dramatic without over doing it, the absence of cliche made it more attractive. It was REAL, yes that’s the perfect word for the storyline, writers managed to make it believable without exercising too much effort. It touched real life, even if there was an important part about overly obsessive fans it felt warm enough to touch many heart out there.
--->;Humor: One more time, it was “Real”; it’s one of the fewest Korean dramas that were funny in a realistic way. Laughing over many scenes would make the drama light-hearted and short since it was an important element that can make serious moments disappear.
--->Romance: it was cleverly divided between the past and the present which created questions and a lot of waiting moments. It was one of the coolest and most believable romantic stories out there. Let’s add that the development created some great anticipating moments.
Negative Points:
None! I don’t think I said this before but I want to address script writers with *CLAPS*
Story: 10/10
3) Acting/Cast:
*Let me say this: I am barely familiar with some of this drama’s casting; I haven’t seen the main two leads in anything before but Wow, it was amazing to see those future talents here.
*Each and every character was really interesting (except Shi Won who was a bit annoying at the beginning), Jun Hee was one of the best characters out there and let’s not forget Shi Won’s parents who added a different taste to this drama since they weren’t the usual boring Korean parents, their characters touched the universal scale.
*Relationships:
--->Friendship: The most important relationship in this drama! Four boys and two girls created a great atmosphere and believable friendship moments. It was one of those relationships that you won’t get tired of watching including Yoon Jae and Shi Won’s best friends relationship.
--->Romance: It felt light with a lot of chemistry. All the pairs in this drama were greatly done even triangles that felt really different and attracting.
Cast: 8/10.
Acting: 9.5/10
4) The ending:
It was a great ending; it delivered nice emotions without being over-done.
The ending: 8.5/10.
5) My impression (How did it affect me):
*Reply 1997 is one of those dramas which I felt its value after I finished it. Even though I am not into Kpop or into obsessive fan girls, I was able to manage H.O.T and the other groups Die-Hard fans mentioned in the drama. I am not saying that I liked them nor understood them it but I didn’t mind their existence like I usually do.
*At first, I was a little bothered by Busan’s dialect but later on, it felt natural.
*Is this drama memorable: Sure it is! Though, I may not remember Kpop madness but I will surely remember the beautiful realistic storyline and some of the cast that gave me great moments while watching them and let’s not forget that I had a respectable amount of laughs which made it more enjoyable.
My impression: 9/10
6) Overall:
*If you’re into Kpop, I am sure you’d enjoy/like this.
*If you’re looking for a different realistic storyline you’d like this.
*Reply 1997 is one of the greatest dramas out there mainly because of its real script and its believable events plus it contained talented actors whi made it more enjoyable.
Overall: 9/10.
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Simply because this is an action drama, I just love watching action dramas and IRIS seemed to be the right choice at the time.
2) Storyline/Plot:
The general storyline was written in a good way, there were a lot of interesting cliffhangers all over the drama, action-suspense packed with romance thrown every once in awhile.
Postive Points:
*Being an action drama that's full of suspense isn't something new yet to see this type of drama in the Korean industry is rare that's why it would feel appealing.
*Main Genres:
--->Action: Considering the fact that this is an action drama, it contained many fighting scenes which were attracting to watch. The action element was set in a way that would make the viewers anxious about the next fighting development. Well, martial arts scenes were practically absent, only guns and free wrestling yet it felt right for this kind of drama plus fighting all over the drama was cool to follow.
--->Suspense: The suspense element wasn't very interesting like the action element yet that doesn't deny the fact that it had an important effect through the drama and the story's development. It's true that it wasn't present ever since the beginning but the fact that it got extended every episode was a smart move to make the audience wonder about what will happen next.
--->Romance: I wouldn't say it's fully a positive point but it was the right amount for an intense drama because in action-suspense dramas, too much romance would ruin the whole plot. Here, romance participated in the story's development by making it more captivating.
Negative Points:
*The negative points that I can think of are related to the suspense element; it's true that I previously mentioned it in the positive points column and it's true that suspense made this drama more interesting yet when there is suspgense and mystery there should be "truth revealing" at/near the end but that wasn't the case here. Yes, we get to know many things but it was left open in an annoying way.
Story: 9/10.
3) Acting/Cast:
*Lee Byung Hun:
I am not very familiar with him as an actor so I wondered if he could pull off an intense role, I also kept questioning his ability in delivering emotions through his acting and the answer was: Good action actor, I liked his skills whether in action or in the dramatical scenes (even though there weren't many).
Kim Hyun Jun was an ordinary action lead male character, I can't think of something special about his character since I've seen it many times before yet it wasn't boring nor usual to watch. I enjoyed his scenes especially his action scenes because he had some respectable action moves.
*Kim Tae Hee:
I like this actress but I believe that her previous roles weren't that interesting therefore I was happy to find her in an action drama with a an intense role. I wanted to confirm her skills and I am satisfied; her perfomance was good enough to make me like her even more.
Choi Seung Hee was an acceptable character, it's true that her action scenes weren't that special and I wanted her to be more strong yet it was good enough to keep the entertainment.
*Other Cast:
As for other main roles, I believe that they were satisfying as actors and characters. Supporting roles were good, I have no complains about them. I specially liked the second lead female as an actress and as a character.
*Relationships:
--->Friendship: I liked the realationship between Hyun Jun and Sa Won all the way through the drama whether it was bromance or conflicts. The friendship between Hyun Jun and Kim Sun Hwa was good too, it's one of the fewest times that I liked the relationship between the lead male and the second lead female.
--->Romance: There was great chemistry between the main roles, the romantic scenes between Hyun Jun and Seung Hee were always good to watch.
--->The Triangle: It was different and much better from other usual boring Korean triangles.
Cast: 8.5/10
Acting: 9/10.
4) The ending:
Don't expect too much from the ending, it's one of the storyline's flaws since it doesn't answer the suspense questions yet it's expected for this intense drama. The ending will leave with lots of questions, it could be considered as an open ending or maybe they're preparing questions for a second season or a film, in that case I wouldn't consider it as an ending.
The ending's rating 7/10.
5) My impression (How did it affect me):
*Usually, an action drama is always interesting for me but this drama had great bonuses: Romance and suspense, which means that I fully enjoyed it from the beginning till the end.
*There's no chance that you will get bored while watching this drama. You can consider it as a thrilling ride that will take you through amazing events and awesome action scenes.
*Is this drama memorable: Yes it is, the fact that it is one of the fewest Korean action dramas, I think it worth a spot in my "unforgettable dramas list" and I am still hoping for a second season, I think it would be good.
My impression: 9/10
6) Overall:
*If you like action-suspense dramas then you need to watch this.
*If you like action dramas with romance thrown in it then IRIS will fit your taste.
*IRIS is a drama that you need to watch when you're looking for a respectable action story with lots of mystery and suspense and let's not forget that it has great main roles.
Overall: 9/10.
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I was planning to watch this drama after it finish airing because I thought it would be a nightmare to wait for the following episodes yet I found an MV about the first four episodes and couldn't wait any longer so I end up watching those four episodes back to back and that's how the journey began.
2)Storyline/Plot:
Generally speaking, the drama's storyline is unique; gathering numerous factors of perfection to create marvellous events with amazing changes each episode. Moreover, script writers knew how to keep viewers interested even if there were unwanted events during the episode, its ending will leave you impatiently wondering about what will happen next. This drama's story is an intelligent combination between breathtaking events, amazing characters changes and great action moments.
Positive Points:
*This drama had one of the most outstanding story's development since it went deeper and deeper every episode in order to show many angles and many events that became greater with each episode passing by.
*Script writers knew how to insert "epic moments" in order to drag the audience intention, when we're not waiting for something to happen, it surprises you and give you the "OMG" moment; that was intensively present in this drama. I just love it when a storyline surprises me, it makes it hard to predict anything from the beginning till the very last end.
*Main Genres:
--->Action: Even though this is mostly an action drama, fighting scenes weren't randomly present, it was calculated in order to make viewers eager for those scenes. The action in this drama has delivered a lot of emotions especially when the situation get intense.
The action scenes were always exciting to watch whether it's because of the storyline that lead to action development or because of characters who had amazing gestures and moves during action sequences.
This drama's action differs from other action dramas, the national hero element(Gaksital) gave the drama uncommon plot changes but that doesn't deny the fact that martial arts were perfectly present. I've seen martial arts in other Korean action dramas and I have to say that it didn't feel like Bridal Mask's martial arts; it was smartly added in a fascinating way to make it absorbing: It was flawless.
--->History: This drama was set in the 30's during the darkest period of the Korean history. At the beginning, it may seem disregarded because "Joeson"'s history is none of our concern yet as the drama goes on, events will make it impossible to imagine this drama in another era. Watching historical dramas may seem boring for some people but this drama's setting wasn't the ancient history which made it modern enough to enjoy watching it.
The historical element has made the plot more expressive because the writers focused on the historical side more than the fictional side.
--->Romance: Actually, it could be considered as a negative point since it hasn't deliver a lot of emotions. However, for an intense drama that's full of action, it was the right amount. It's true that it was light but it had deeper meanings since most of the romantic stories started in the past and continued in the present.
The romantic flashbacks were smartly added, it wasn't like most of other dramas that add flashbacks to gain space in the drama's time, it was present were it needed to be.
Negative points:
*As for me, I didn't sense any negative points in this drama's storyline yet there were some political talks that bothered some viewers since it took a lot of space yet that doesn't affect the general story not even the slightest bit.
*Another point: some people wouldn't enjoy this drama if they didn't watch it while it's airing because there were too many repetitive scenes at the end of some episodes.
Story: 9.5/10.
3) Acting/Cast:
*Joo Won:
I haven't seen Joo Won in any other production so I was introduced to his acting skills through this drama and what an introduction! I was so trapped in his acting skills especially at the first episodes and as the drama went on, I became certain that he has an outstanding acting and let's not forget action scenes that were perfectly done.
The role was grasped in an amazing way, I've felt the actor through his screaming, his moves and everything that he's done *Claps*
Speaking about the character, Kang To amazed me ever since the drama began. I was moved by his personality and his charisma. As the character changed, it was like there was another person: Different perspective and different actions that built a whole different character.
Whether it is Lee Kang To, Sato Hiroshi or Gaksital, the character will give you an amazing ride to make you fall for it more and more with each episode passing by.
*Park Ki Woong:
I've only seen him in an horror film before so I am not very familiar with his acting skills. Here, his acting reached me in a perfect way plus the action scenes where he took part were done in a great way. We've got to give credit to Park Ki Woong for his amazing acting skills and his incredible way of portraying the role.
Shunji's character is an unpredictable character, it had many crucial changes that made it unbearable somehow. The changes in Shunji's character are beyond belief, the personality switch was incredible. It was sort of synchronized with Kang To's character transformations yet Shunji's deviation was much profound.
*Jin Se Yun:
I haven't seen her in anything before, I would rather not to judge her as an actress so let's say this was an introduction. However, it would have much better if this role was portrayed by a mature actress.
Mok Dan character didn't appeal to me like Kang To's and Shunji's, that's all what I will say.
*Other cast: Starting with Rara to every supporting role, this drama has an amazing cast that knew how to pull off their character in a great way. There were many characters that can stick in your mind because of their acting skills or their action performances. It was well chosen even though I don't recognize half of them.
*Relationships:
--->Bromance: The bromance in this drama was consuming from the beginning until the end; there was a lot of hard and sweet moments between Kang To and Shunji. The conflicts between the lead males made this drama more captivating. Everything that happened between Kang To and Shunji was interesting to watch; it was one of the most exciting relationships in this drama.
--->Romance: Like I said earlier, the romance was light so we can't possibly talk about chemistry but the side romantic stories were good.
--->The triangle: This drama's triangle is nothing like other Korean dramas triangles, it was gripping due to Shunji who was nothing like other Korean second lead males and Rara who's also different from any other second lead females.
*Appreciated characters: While watching this drama, I liked many characters like Katsuyama and Abe; those characters aren't very important in the drama's storyline yet they left a great impression.
Cast: 9.5/10.
Acting: 10/10.
4) The ending:
Many people were surprised by the ending. As for me, I thought it would be a similar ending ever since I started watching the drama because an intense drama can't have a calm ending.
I appreciated the ending, it was a realistic closure for this type of drama plus it makes sense.
The closing scene is masterpiece of art, it was so great to watch.
The ending: 9.5/10.
5) My impression (How did it affect me):
*I was captured by this drama ever since I started watching it, I kept impatiently waiting for its episodes to come out every week; it literally made me obsessed over it.
*This was one of the few dramas that I didn't skip any parts while watching it. 28 episodes is considered long somehow but I haven't felt those 28 hours passing by.
*Is this drama memorable: Absolutely! This drama gained a spot in my favorite dramas list, it's one of the greatest Korean dramas that I've seen so far, it brought me the unexpected and the originality.
My impression: 10/10.
6) Overall:
It doesn't matter what genres of dramas you like to watch, this drama have the potential to make you go obsessed over it. I recommend it to anyone who's looking for a great storyline with breathtaking acting skills and amazing music and let's not to forget the marvellous action scenes.
Overall: 10/10.
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