Took months to get through this one. I almost gave up at first though. The main male character was TOO aggressive. I know, I know...that's the point, he's supposed to be a jerk....all that. I know. I just didn't like it. At all. He assaulted the girl on numerous occasions and she falls for him. I had trouble with that. Quite a bit of trouble, actually.

But then Hua Ze Lei showed up like a knight in shining armor and just stole my heart and I had to keep watching even though SLS was written all over that poor boy. But seriously, I want his wardrobe.

The story takes a long time to resolve with too many I love him/her, I hate him/her, Let's date, let's break up, I love you, NO I love you episodes. It was tiring. The writers also seemed to forget some key points (the bridge club, Shen Cai's cooking) by half way through which makes it seem scattered and leaves you wondering why we lived through the drama of those things when they ultimately mean nothing to the plat. Headscratchers.

Eventually, as Dao Ming Si matures and recognizes he's an idiot, I warmed to him. The crying scene...lordy, son...breakin' my heart. I wasn't even mad at Shan Cai for liking him over the alternative. The heart loves who it loves. Happy endings and all that.

So, with reservation, I would recommend this show. The violence toward Shen Cai is triggering so if you have a sensitivity toward that, don't watch this.

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It was a little confusing for me for a while. The multiple personality storyline I knew was coming but it came up quickly and I guess I wasn't expecting it or something. Not sure. Nevertheless, it was handled really well. There's a bit of suspension of disbelief regarding how the doctor who isn't a doctor yet gets to take care of this very sick man, but whatever, it works and I was sucked into it. Ji Sung

Ji Sung does a fantastic job acting the various other personalities. My heart was broken into a million pieces as he works through their origins and extinctions. Hwang Jung Eum carried a big load as well and she did it flawlessly. She was funny, competent and believable. Together they were on point emotionally and their chemistry was perfect.

Park Seo Joon supports the pair so well as the brother who knows more than is good for him and his sister. His struggles tore at my heartstrings almost more than the main couple. UGH. Don't make me cry. But cry I did. A lot...and I'm not really a crier. I was happy to shed tears for this one, though. Totally worth it.

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It usually takes me three episodes before I commit to a drama. This one had me hooked by 5 minutes. And I never wavered. Not once.

The male lead's character was written perfectly. He's why women have trouble with real men...they can't measure up to this guy. Add to that the actor's skill and, you're in danger, girl! Honestly the writing was perfection as well. The double life aspect of the male lead was perfectly done.

Tying the past of the two leads together was done with precision and cleverness. The show runners gave you just enough to want more without being stingy with information. It slowly comes together for us as it does for the main leads. Their friendship developing into something more happens slowly and sweetly with only hints of sadness as they struggle with their pasts.

The supporting cast was STELLAR. Adjumma...I salute you! You are the perfect foil to healer. I would watch this drama over and over again if there weren't so many others in my "to watch" list. :D

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I know this is probably one of the highest rated dramas around. There's good reason for that. It's really good. The story is complex enough to keep you interested. The acting is great too. The female lead is cute, funny, and heartbreakingly real as she navigates the ups and downs of a failing career and her first real love connection.

There were a few too many tropes for me to fully throw my heart into giving it a 10 though. I wanted to like it a bit more than I actually did. It wasn't slow, it wasn't dumb, it wasn't poorly scripted or acted but something just didn't work for me for some reason. I can't say exactly what. Maybe I was just over tired or distracted by my life. Who knows.

I would definitely recommend this drama. It's unique enough to not feel like you've seen it a billion times. It's a typical love story, true, but the writers play a bit to make it clever and cute.

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So far it's been a beautiful show and I find myself smiling like fool at the sweetness. Couldn't live off shows like (too much sweetness) this but I love it so far.

After finishing the show I still really liked it. Again, super sweet and a steady diet of these could probably get old. I loved the eagerness of the main male lead and the resoluteness of the female lead. You knew who these characters were and, for better or worse, they stayed true to that persona. They risk everything for each other even when you think that they aren't going to.

The secondary stories were good as well and kept things interesting. And I'm a sucker for beautiful cinematography so I was captivated. The music was good as well, I liked the music while they are in Cuba since it's closer to my heart. I also liked how they tied the two countries together in an interesting way as opposed to just the place where they met.

There was a stall (most shows have them) near the end but the wrap up was sweet and perfect and made me happy. I love happy endings.

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I was really hopeful for this one. The first few episodes felt joyful and I love Noona dramas. Once the main couple gets together it's all butterflies and sweetness and I LOVED IT!!! Tears, smiles all around.

But all good things must come to an end apparently. The "we can't tell anyone" thing just dragged on a little too long until they are found out. Then everyone freaks out and I stopped being able to relate. I know it's maybe a cultural thing for a grown woman to still have to get permission for things from her parents but as a westerner I couldn't relate and it started to grate on my nerves. I'm sorry if that is offensive, it's not meant to be.

The main couple's relationship seems built on a house of cards that crumbled with the slightest wind. There just wasn't much between them save a physical attraction. Perhaps I would have stuck with it if there was more I could relate to. Alas, there wasn't so I bailed around episode 12.

PS. the music gets REALLY repetitive.

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I loved this one. I held off on watching it because I thought it might be too similar to Do Bong Soon. Dumb move. It was nothing like it. This has it's own charm by the kg.

Kim Bok Joo and her weightlifter friends navigate the sports school hierarchy as they figure out who they are as athletes and young adults. Bok Joo is talented and confident until she falls for her doctor. A swimmer with a connection to her past complicates things for her by accidentally interfering. As he tries to help fix the mess he's made the friendship becomes stronger. Together they work through some tough things emotionally and physically while maintaining a sweet relationship that takes it's time maturing.

The side stories are sweet and fun and help move the story along without distracting from it.

I really loved how this played out. The writing was really well done. It didn't feel like a story I'd seen a billion times before. The actors were all very good which helped the characters feel relate-able and real. Don't be a dork and wait to watch this one. Do it NOW!

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This show should probably come with a trigger warning. There are many MANY scenes that could make you very uncomfortable if you are sensitive to violence against children. Tears flowed freely watching this one.

As the relationship between the teacher and little girl grows, the anxiety about their safety intensifies. The writers and show runners do a FABULOUS job of keeping things moving without giving too much away too quickly. Viewers get to feast on beautiful moments punctuated by suspenseful narrow escapes.

There are some real villains in this one. You feel a bit sorry for them toward the end but not enough to not hope they get what is coming for them. The actors, nearly every single one in the whole show, do the script justice. The little girl...holy amazing! This show is female heavy with males only as supporting characters and the casting directors all deserve a pay raise. A big one. These women are fantastic.

Your heart gets torn apart watching this one. Thankfully you get some stitching up before the show ends and you can be left feeling not completely gutted.

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I think because it's so predictable and the story has been done so much, it just lacked excitement. The actors did a good job and I felt connected to them but just not really to the story. I was more excited about the political story (which I almost NEVER am) than the romance. The girl is a boy thing was too much for me in this one so it made it a bit hard to watch from time to time. It is really sweet, beautiful to watch, and was worth a watch, but I won't watch again.

I'm a big PBG fan so I hate not being able to give it a glowing review but I gotta be honest.

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After finishing Reply 1988 I watched this. Four of the boys get to spend time exploring Africa together. They have to overcome some hardships and stick to a budget. It was so sweet to see how they supported each other and shared such memorable times together. I love seeing them be vulnerable and emotional and cried with them. Then laughed at the silliness and crazy situations they got into. The music is great with all kinds of tunes from all over. I loved them singing and was impressed with their English skills! As a mom of boys I pray that my boys can grow up to have friends who love and support them like this. So sweet to watch.

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Honestly, this drama was everything I could ask for in a drama. Being a kid of the 80's who remembers watching the Seoul Olympics and remembers many of the songs that made their way across the world into Korean pop culture, this drama had an especially strong nostalgic feel to it. Watching Deok-sun peg her pants...bwahahahaaaa...instant flashbacks of countless minutes spent trying to get them just right LOL and those bangs....HA!!! SO thankful to have gone through my awkward stage before social media. LOL

It's not a romance, though that is a big part of it. It's not a comedy, but that, again, is a big part of it. It's a show about family and friends. For US viewers, think The Wonder Years and Parenthood all mashed together. Tears from laughing and crying were shed. It takes a lot to make me cry but this got me a few times for all the right reasons.

The remembrance of youth was the focus of the show. The neighborhood scenes made you either remember your own families/friends and the neighborhood where you grew up or wish you had one like this. The sweet and simple friendships are like comfort food. The strength they have for each other when times got tough is where you FEEL their connection. I wish people reached out this way more in today's world. I think we'd be better off.

I almost didn't watch this because I wasn't quite sure I liked it at the first episode (I get sidetracked by the hitting and yelling among families in Asian dramas) but I am SOOOOO glad I stuck with it. By the end I was wishing it wouldn't ever end. But the story was told and it was a wonderful story. Every family should watch it.

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Lovely film about family (chosen and blood). I particularly enjoyed the way the film depicted the difficulties of a family struggling with change and poverty. The father figures are all unique and flawed but they dearly love the "son".

Not being Korean, I didn't have any concept of racial issues that were addressed in the show. It made me sad. But the relationship that develops between the prickly teacher and wayward student and then between the estranged mom and son is sweet and special. One of my favorite scenes from the movie (there were quite a few so this is just a taste) was when Do Wan-deuk is praying for God to do something to get the teacher (who is trying to help the kid) off his back and concludes (then prays for) that the only hope is for God to kill the guy. Then a bit later, the teacher is injured. A classic k-drama piggy back ride ensues with Wan-deuk saying, "This is not what I meant!" Good stuff.

There's not really a romance but the little bit there is makes you smile. It's a little predictable (reminiscent of Good Will Hunting - an American film) and a little too tidy at the end but I enjoyed watching it. I felt the acting, especially the two main leads (Yoo Ah In and Kim Yoon-seok) was superb and lifted the film out of the predictable plot.

Well worth the watch if you can find it.

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I was conflicted the whole time I watched this show. I really liked the acting and the characters. I even liked the plot except when it got crazy and inconsistent. Inconsistency is probably the biggest challenge for this drama (and the fact that I really don't enjoy shows that try to convince me that a stunningly beautiful girl can pass for a boy for years). It gets bogged down by insignificant things (at least I couldn't see their significance) and seemed to draaaaagggg oooonnn for eeevverrrrr in places. But I couldn't stop watching because there was something about it that kept me interested. I honestly am not sure what it was except for the chemistry between the actors (all of them...not just the main leads). The ending sucked for me, personally, and made me actually angry that I didn't get the end I wanted. I'm selfish, what can I say. I waited 70+ hours for that ending, dangit! I would say it was worth watching but I can't honestly quantify why.

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Oh Chinese dramas that last for 70+ episodes...you make me work for it, don't you!

I embarked on this journey after completing "Empresses of the Palace" with the same female lead, Sun Li. I love her. She's amazing. So I figured this would be no different, right?

Well, it's different and better! Not that I saw huge flaws in EOTP but this one made me "feel" stuff. The story here was more compelling and the acting was exemplary. There is tragedy and heartbreak a-plenty (I see a trend in Chinese historical dramas) so prepare your heart. There is one scene when Shen Xingyi (played by the amazing Chen Xiao) is heartbroken by a decision made by Zhou Ying and it broke me. I cried real tears that flowed like Niagara falls! Sooooo sad.

There are many slow episodes (at 70 episodes there are bound to be more than a few that drag) and the back and forth of the romance between (SX and ZY) gets a little repetitive. The side romances are ok if trite. But the bad guy, Du Mingli...LOVE him!!! What a great character. Well acted and so complicated. You both love him and hate him all at the same time. I guess the same can be said of Shen Xingyi. He grows up and becomes someone you fall in love with.

I've watched three long Chinese history dramas but this one is the only one I'd watch again the next time I have 70+ hours to kill. :D

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