I get it, I TOTALLY GET IT

First off, the story is so engaging, I would have never thought that I would pick up a 50 episode drama and finish it as quickly as I did with this and even feel empty after doing so. At no point did the show feel draggy or boring, each episode was loaded with quality content. It might take you the first 4-6 episodes to understand what’s fully going on in the show but once you’re hooked there’s no getting out! (Also, in spite of scenes with questionable CGI, how can the show be so full of picturesque shots? I can only think of giving this drama a 10).

The show has a great story but it doesn’t depend on just the events of the story, but the actions and emotions of well-fleshed out characters in bringing its brilliance into play- not just the main but even the support cast. What helps is the great acting of the cast and Wang Yibo and Xiao Zhan ofcourse deserve a special mention. While the latter has to depict a lot of emotions with passion (which he nails) as his character goes through a lot, the former has to follow the road of depicting his pain and happiness through an excellent understated performance.

Talking about the 2 main characters, their chemistry was explosive! Endearing glances, minor touches, body language and loving smiles toward one another were enough for the viewers to understand they are not just ‘friends’. I have no idea how they passed censorship (especially after seeing ep 14) but their subtle affection for one another comes full circle by the end.

I never thought I’d write a review for this show since it has a collection of positive reviews, a great rating on this site and general praises all around. However if you have been scared to begin watching this due to the hype or the censorship- don’t be! Just blindly take a step and watch it!

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A burst of emotions in the best way possible

I contemplated whether to write a review about this masterpiece as there are enough acclaiming it and giving you a guarantee where in the reader understands its worth a watch. However, I feel compelled to say that I don’t even watch thai dramas but an edit brought me here and I was left in awe of the masterpiece ITSAY is. After a very long time I’m suffering from a post drama syndrome and watching this show was a heart-wrenching experience in the best way possible. It has everything you want from a viewing experience- soft angst, healing, character development, a whole lot a feelings and a lingering feeling of a heavy heart. Please give it a watch if you’re doubting whether you would want to see it or not. It is absolutely worth it in every sense if the way.

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The magic of this show is in it’s storytelling rather than the story.

I do have a feeling watching this slowly will make you like it more, I remember waiting each week to watch its episode and feeling relaxed and warmed after doing so.

Okay so where do I begin? As I watched, I kept thinking how natural everything felt. No big explosions, no dramatic interactions- raw and understated emotion done right.

Each character is likeable, well-written, flawed and realistic. All the four leads have a unique charm which I can’t quite express. Interactions between all characters at whichever point they occur, are very enjoyable to watch. (That does include a quirky Bromance and Sismance too).

The main couple‘s storyline progresses naturally and their chemistry is too real. Each interaction between the two gave me butterflies and made me unknowingly smile all the time. Even the second lead couple is built gradually even though their obvious connection is noted early on. They show realistic conversations that flow as the moment passes and there’s something really genuine in the way it’s done.

The side cast consists of characters interlinked to the 4 leads- no scene of theirs feels unnecessary too and they add a new charm to the show.

Another interesting point to note is the humour- it is well placed and comes at unexpected points leaving you smiling as you’re pleasantly surprised. Even the OST is really fitting and the pace is perfect in my books. It might seem slow to some as the show is very character driven. But the characters are interesting enough for that to be its biggest pro.

I urge whoever is reading to give it a go for an interesting and fresh storyline with the most endearing characters.

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What has already not been said about this show? I was expecting to be disappointed by it as there is too much hype around this drama and that always leads to a rise in expectations. However after completing it, I can say that I totally understand the hype but not without its issues.

I will start with the good:
-Honestly at the heart of the show is the bromance between the Goblin and the Grim Reaper. They have a definite backstory and a connection that we see blossom as the two rely on each other and grow fond of one another.
-Grim Reaper. Yes. That is it. With the most interesting character arc, all the plot lines surrounding him were the most engaging and I would always look forward to his scenes.
-The romance between Sunny and the Grim Reaper is heartbreaking and endearing. They have great chemistry and I could totally see why Touch your Heart was made after this show.
-Strong supporting cast that added to the drama instead of working as an unnecessary filler. Each character had something to add in their own way.
-The humorous parts were well-placed and would help bring a lighter tone after heavy scenes.
-OST. The show is known to have a great soundtrack and it honestly contributes in making this drama better.
-Spot on acting by each member of the cast.
-Last but not definitely not the least, its outstanding cinematography. The colors and locations are just super pleasing to the eye.

There were certain illogical points in the plotline but I won't include any plot-related point in my dislike area. Now coming to my share of problems:
-THE MAIN COUPLE. Just like a few others have mentioned, the age gap here is very hard to ignore. And no, I am not referring to the age gap between the actors; the fact that a 900+ year old Goblin falls for a high school student just did not sit well with me. Their relationship at many points seemed more like a father-daughter duo, with him patting her head, buying her gifts as she squeaks and gets excited, telling her to be back home early and on time, paying for her meals- the list just goes on. It certainly did not help that Eun Tak was written as an innocent, bubbly young teenager and the 'wise' Goblin too lost all his composure around her. The actors of course nailed their parts so this is not on them but just on how the central love story was written. Even till the end, the weakest link for me was their romance plot line. They did have their moments, but that left a very temporary smile on my face unlike the second couple.
-Repeated scenarios, too many flashbacks and heck lot of slow motion shots (particularly between the Goblin and Eun Tak). I know all dramas have these, but this one takes it to another level.
-Lack of screen time for Yoo Duk Hwa and Sunny. These were two very interesting characters which in spite of being a part of the main cast were underutilized in my opinion.
-A lot of the essential and heavy stuff was revealed and given light to after episode 10 (with earlier episodes having repeated scenarios and flashbacks as mentioned above).

One might wonder in spite of not enjoying the main romance how could the rating still be an 8? Well even with my personal problems with it, there were many factors that kept me going and I was invested in the show. I was also very pleased with how the show ended. If you want to watch, give it a try. But if the main couple's interactions bother you in the start, it does not get better. If you can get past it, then there is the epic bromance and the second lead's love story. If the romance fits your bill, then the show will be extremely enjoyable for you.

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WATCH IT NOW!

I would like to start by saying I have not read the webtoon and thus I’ll judge the story and characters as showcased in the drama. I would also ensue a trigger warning as the show depicts serious topics like Suicide, self harm and violence- so bear this in mind if you decide to watch.

Without spoiling too much, the show focuses on the characters and their reactions and emotions in this life threatening situation they are put in. It is how they come together to fight monsters- outside and the ones within. Each character comes with their own backstory and ALL characters are interesting and well-written. They put in a good amount of money and the monsters look convincing even though the CGI is evident. I was pretty impressed! (If you’re worried about them being scary, don’t be- those are not what might scare you or scar you while watching the show)

Each actor does a bang-on job and you feel connected to most of them inspite of the show being 10 episodes.

The ending of the show leaves space for season 2 and I do hope they come out with one. Even if they don’t, one can interpret the last few scenes in various ways so if you aren’t a fan of an open ending this part might not sit well with you.

I really liked the background score at most times but whenever Warriors played, I felt like the song used for those parts could have varied- however it doesn’t take away from what the scene tried to portray so I won’t complain much on that front.

All in all I highly recommend the show and I assure you, you’ll be happy you took out your time and gave it a chance!

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Definitely different but the storyline gets messy, would be better to watch it all at once!

I watched this drama as each episode came on Netflix, and that sometimes really weakened my link to it. The drama has a strong start and it piques your interest. However after probably the first half, the plot gets messy and there are too many things going on which could easily confuse the viewer.

Few other problems that I noted:
-Joo Eun and Jung Hwan (Seohyun and Kyung Pyo) had great chemistry (check their bts and you'll realise why I say so) but their storyline was not well fleshed out.
-Joo Eun and Sophia Chung had an interesting dynamic which was not explored well.
-The show would have definitely worked better in a 12 episode format.
-I still have many questions that need to be answered but somehow I am still okay about that part.

Why I kept going:
-Strong Female characters who had distinct personalities.
-Sophia Chung was a SCENE STEALER! Whenever she would come on screen my attention would always divert to her.
-Sophia and Edward had the most interesting love line in the show (additional scenes of the two could have helped the show).
-Everyone acted very well from the main to the support cast.
-Funnily in spite of not having as many scenes as some other characters, the righteous policeman Myung Hyun really caught my eye. I was interested to see how he gets involved and helps our leads (also his dynamic with his fellow female officer was fun to see I was kind of rooting for them).
-I was curious to see how it all comes together.

Had I watched the whole thing at once I would have been more engaged and enjoyed it more! In spite of the problems I mentioned in the beginning, I still enjoyed the show.

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Extremely entertaining and fresh but an ending that might leave you dissatisfied

Firstly, if you do decide to see this drama, please bare in mind that you should not watch it seriously and be bothered by the logical repercussions of certain actions depicted. I actually wanted to give it a 10 purely on the basis of the ENTERTIANMENT VALUE this drama has but I did not due to my disheartened viewpoint regarding its ending.

Reasons you should watch:
-The Queen (Bong-Hwan) and the King understanding one another and slowly falling in love.
-The perfectly timed comedy that save all the serious moments too from getting overly-dramatic.
-The support cast add a lot to the story and are full of characters with distinct personalities.
-Never not entertaining- there is no dull movement and I would wait each week for this drama to take me by surprise.
-Brilliant modern day references incorporated in the Joseon Era.
-Last but not the least, THE ACTING. Shin Hye Sun does emerge as the star playing two characters with different genders simultaneously but Kim Jung-Hyun does an equally good job! Scenes were they are together- none overpower the other and they seamlessly deliver powerful performances. The entire support cast does an excellent job too.

My one and only complaint:
-The ending. I do not want to include spoilers in the review and so I won’t expand on this but it sort of undermines the purpose of the journey BH and CJ shared as CJ fell in love with BH as the Queen.

The ending might not sit well with you just as it did not with me but I do see people interpreting this as a happy one as well. However, I would still go on to say the show was refreshing, entertaining, comic, surprisingly romantic and worth a watch!

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A must watch for those who enjoy well-written characters and a satisfying ending!

I will try to keep this short:

The three main characters are extremely well-written and brilliantly acted. A special shout-out to Oh Jung Se for portraying MST so well and bringing life to the character! The side cast are also perfectly fit to their role and there are seriously 0 complaints in the acting department- the actors deserve all the praise.

The chemistry of the lead couple is amazing, but I would like to add that was sold me was the brilliant chemistry between the brothers. I enjoyed their storyline the most and loved seeing them grow and understand one another.

There are a lot of praises about this drama already and I will add on to say it deserves the praise it gets. However, one major issue not many seem to talk about is how problematic KMY's character is.

I am extremely sorry as this opinion may not be well-received by many but I think it is necessary to share. She seriously had many issues going on and I would have liked to see scenes where she actually receives therapy each time she went to the Hospital for other purposes. Many things she does are unforgivable but are brushed off by MGT as he accepts her personality and Seo Ye Jin plays her role with such charm that the audience does not seem to complain either. She is almost selfish at times as she is only nice to the man she loves and her brother.

In spite of what I mentioned, this show is worth watching for its gorgeous cinematography, the development of all the characters (mostly all), the OST and a well-rounded storyline.

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Criminally Underrated

I will keep this short- If you have doubts whether to watch this one or not, don't waste time thinking, Just go for it!

I was wowed as the concept that they had was not easy to execute but they did an exceptional job at it. I had read somewhere that the past life storyline is far more interesting than the current one. I would disagree here and say that both were equally interesting but the present day storyline takes time to grow on you as you really have to be invested in the characters to truly enjoy this drama.

The cast nailed each role and showcased the emotions of the characters with utmost nuance and beauty. A special shout-out to Yoo Ah In who nailed his role and looked absolutely gorgeous while he was at it.

The story takes time to develop- but that's exactly what I like about it. The initial 4 episodes might seems slow but they are necessary for us to understand the male lead's actions and emotions and for us to connect with them. I was hooked since the start to the ending and after a very long time had a drama got me this invested.

The focus of the story is around the main leads and the 'villain' here also had a compelling storyline and it is always nice to see a well-written villain that has motive.

The leads had great chemistry and their storyline was also written well. Even though you feel bad for the parallel lead (whose character is extremely likable), you are still super satisfied with the main couple's journey and ending. Even the dynamic of all the 3 leads is fun to watch and the Bromance is strong in this one which is one of its many positives.

The concept was delivered beautifully and the OST really went well with the vibe of the show.

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Character-driven story of love, loss and hope

Firstly, I think if anyone has seen the teaser or just watched the first five minutes of the drama, it is beyond obvious where the ending is headed. So it’s better to watch this as it really is—a slice-of-life romantic drama.

The show does a great job of diving into the story and creating interest in each character they introduce. Its main strength lies in its strong character writing, which was why I personally enjoyed it. If your main focus is on the storyline as a whole, this might not fit your bill.

The best part is the dynamic between the leads and their absolutely incredible and natural chemistry. There were certain aspects in their reunion that I wasn’t the biggest fan of, but their flawed characters couple up to form a perfect match!

The ML, Hae Jo’s dynamic with Bong Sun is also pretty interesting, and I sort of wish they spent more time on the two instead of certain storylines that should have wrapped up much earlier in the story.

By these storylines, I’m referring to everything around Heung. As much as I love Oh Jung Se (and his combination with another powerhouse like Kim Hae Sook made for some impeccably well-acted scenes), I didn’t see the point of showing us his story as much as they did. Heung spends most of his time mindlessly following our FL Jae Mi around, which was valid until a certain point. After the reality of his situation with her was clear, he still appeared to be lost without her. My main gripe is that his pain did not affect the main leads dynamic at all, and by that point in the story, it added no value to the plot progression because the story was centered around Hae Jo’s last leg. If they cut off certain parts, the show would’ve been more crisp in its later half (like it was in its first) and may have ended in 8 episodes as well.

All in all, this was a great watch and very binge-able once you’re hooked in. Also, I’d like to specifically mention that Woo Do Hwan has never looked as gorgeous as he does here. He was charming and extremely mind-blowing in this role!

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When the rom-com is rom-comming

I cannot recall the last time I smiled this much while watching a kdrama, Sol and Sun Jae are PERFECT together. Lovely Runner was successful in getting me out of my kdrama slump and the main credit goes to Byeon Woo Seok and Kim Hye Yoon seamlessly becoming their characters, and creating this 11/10 chemistry we get to witness. I have always liked Kim Hye Yoon and I’m glad she got to showcase her range in this show, but I am SUPER happy for Byeon Woo Seok. I’ve liked him ever since I saw Record of Youth. I love seeing the fame he’s getting and I want more people to marvel him for his acting caliber and how drop dead GORGEOUS he is. I died really, I did.

Coming back to the show, what I also really like is that it never strays from being a ‘rom-com’. What really bothers me is when a rom-com turns into a melodrama or just turns down the comedy as the show progresses, but that never happens here. Even with the time travel, memory loss, Sun Jae’s infinite deaths, the show finds its way to go back to being a rom-com. Their strong support cast also helps in this case. I see a lot of well-deserved love for Tae Sung, but even In-Hyuk was a very loveable character who was a delight to watch on screen (Lee Seung Hyub is so HOT, anyone who has seen Shooting Stars will agree).

However, the show does have its flaws. What could have worked very well as a 12 or maybe even a 14 epsiode show, is drawn out to 16 episodes. Somehow they still managed to make the leads the focal point in all those episodes, and that really deserves an applaud, but I still feel the storyline could have easily wrapped up earlier. There is a repetition in scenarios, but the show is lucky that the main couple is such a joy on screen that the viewers would not mind. I would not change anything from epsiode 1-8, but post that, they could have condensed the show. Also let’s not forget the taxi driver storyline - stretched out for too long.

Another point that I want to address, which in no way is a bother, is Sun Jae’s career. The way the pilot goes, makes the audience feel he does not enjoy his role in Eclipse. In the subsequent episodes, we see the whole swimming storyline. I truly thought they would put emphasis on his career choice being linked to his unhappiness and he would end up doing something he truly enjoys. Somehow all these career-option battles were treated more as plot points instead of being something integral to Sun Jae’s storyline. There’s nothing wrong in it but I just felt a little duped by those initial episodes focus on it.

All in all, my love for our main couple easily trumps any complaints I have for the show. I will truly cherish this show for getting me out of my slump, and making me look forward to the upcoming episodes, and the release of SPRING SNOW (THANK THE HEAVENS FOR THAT), and for giving Byeon Woo Seok his extremely well-deserved popularity!

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