AnanyaS
India
-I solely picked up this drama because of the leads, but i wasn't disappointed. At all. Certainly not by the acting, as everyone, but specially Jung Hae In and Chae Soo Bin did a wonderful portrayal of their characters.
-The best way I can describe this drama is like taking long sips of warm tea of a rainy day. That's how it felt like to me. It has this warm feel to it, if that makes sense. It wasn't just another romance drama, it was something different.
-I simply adored the chemistry between the main leads. I loved their slow burn relationship. The way they grew to love and respect each other. Another thing, that I just can't thank the writer enough was the fact that they had tons of scene together.
I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing, but this one didn't really have a lot of supporting characters. Don't get me wrong, it had enough, but definitely not as much as compared to other Kdramas. Maybe some people would find that not that of a good thing, but since I was invested in the main leads relationship, I didn't really mind. I loved it, if anything.
-After the first few episodes, it almost felt like nothing was "actually" happening but each episode was so comforting and relaxing to watch. I always looked forward to the next episodes! Which takes me to my next point.
-This is not exactly a binge-able drama. As much as I loved it, even I admit had I watched it in one go, I probably wouldn't have been this taken with it. This drama is meant to be enjoyed slowly. Although that's not to say that people won't enjoy marathoning it. After all, everyone has different tastes.
-I'm trying very hard to be subjective here, so I won't say that it's a mind blowing drama. In fact, if any one were to ask it WHY did I love it this much, I probably wouldn't be able to point it out. Was it because I love Jung Hae In (& Chae Soo Bin, but not to that extent), was it because of the whole unrequited love plot (I'm a sucker for those), was it because of the pacing or was it just a combination of everything? Like I said, I'm not sure. But I do know that loved this drama very, very much. And that doesn't happen to me now as much.
-I am not going to comment much on the technological aspect of the drama because I am not that familiar with it. But there were a few things that would seem a bit absurd at times.
-I didn't quite get the point of Min Jung's character. I mean usually a supporting character is there to, you know, support the story. But it felt like she was just there. Also, I didn't enjoy the whole Soon Ho- In Wool relationship. I didn't see it, I didn't feel it, so there you go. But for both of these things, I am guessing it's only me as I haven't seen anyone else making a comment on these.
I feel like every drama has its strong and weak points. So had this one. I have tried to summarize them the best i could. Regard less of any thing, i loved this drama, and i was really disappointed that it got cut short.
I really hope you give this one a chance! Happy Watching!!
Was this review helpful to you?
I am not going to say that it's the best medical drama. But it's definitely one of them!
I solely started this drama because of Ji Sung. I can't say I dislike medical dramas but they aren't exactly my go-to genre. But like always, Ji Sung didn't let me down. I am so glad that I decided to watch this drama!It's no breaking news that Ji Sung has acting chops. Well, that seems a bit of an understatement. Every character that he plays on screen, you can't help but fall in love with. With that much charisma he is surely one of the most lovable ahjussi on TV right now.
Lee Se Young has grown so much as an actress. Maybe her character didn't sit well with everyone, but she did grew a lot throughout the series. Though that girl's hair is a mess, that I cannot deny.
The chemistry between the leads! Woah!! I loved them!
This has a slow burn romance, but it's so worth it! The drama doesn't shy away from their age gap, but it's never creepy or uncomfortable. Their relationship begins simply as a mentor mentee, but gradually develops into more, and it's so beautifully portrayed!
This series has seriously one the best second lead, hands down. That is, of course, if he does actually qualify as a second lead. I really enjoyed watching Dr. Lee on-screen! Of course, one of the things I loved about him was the fact that any chance he got to leave the two leads alone, he did it. He is such a far cry from.other clueless second leads. Also his minor love line with Mi Rae was cute.
Aside from focusing on one big idea on which the series was based upon- euthanasia, it also focused on day to day dealings of the doctors. How they suffered with their patients, how they learned from their mistakes, how they worked together as a team. There might be a few medical moral dilemmas involved, yet again, euthanasia aside. But try to remember that its a work of fiction. You can't expect them to provide accuracy on everything.
Euthanasia is quite a sensitive topic. It's hard to pick right or wrong with it. That debate has been going on for quite some time, an I believe it will go on for longer. Everyone has their opinion on the subject, and it's hard to say which one is right. If it is even possible to say so. For the most part, I think they did a wonderful job with it. In the start, you get to hear both their sides. You get to see why one is against that and why one is for that.
What I wasn't satisfied with though, was the fact that later on in the show, the writer decided to include personal reasons behind their stances on euthanasia. While it did not completely negate the whole debate about the topic, it still lessened the effect, at least for me.
Maybe I am unjustified in feeling so, but I feel like Lee Kyu Thing's talent were a bit...Well, wasted to be honest. He deserves a better character. I feel like his character wasn't really that fleshed out. It makes me sad, because even though he did a really good job here, his character was just so underwhelming.
One more things that I was unsatisfied with was that the "ending" felt a bit, anticlimactic, shall I say? After building the tension up gradually with each episode, it wasn't really satisfying to watch how it eventually unfolded. It's like the writer realised the moral dilemma with the situation, and decided to bring in a third party to put all the blame upon.
Every drama has something's it does great, and something it does not. Doctor John is no exception to that. But what it does manage to create, is something that is heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. It manages to create a charming, captivating and engaging storyline, series and characters, which I loved following straight from episode one, right to the finale.
So give this a go, chances are, this series would pull you right in!
Happy Watching!!
Was this review helpful to you?
It wasn't perfect, it wasn't without it's faults, but it was a drama that I really enjoyed watching!
-The story centers around Cha Joo Hyuk, who is miserable with his married life. The drama focuses on how his one choice changes the world that he has always known. Not just for him. But for everyone he has known and loved.- Frankly, I'll agree with everyone who says that Joo Hyuk was an immature selfish jerk. I'll say the same thing. He was everything that people described him as. But REALISTICALLY so.
We, as viewers, are used to seeing a male lead who is righteous and is ready to sacrifice himself, for the female lead, at the very least. But Cha Joo Huk wasn't like that. Not at the start anyway. The choice he made was solely for his own happiness. But dare I say I understood Joo Hyuk? Don't get me wrong, I didn't like him either (not for a long time anyway), but I get his character. If faced with a similar situation in similar circumstances, maybe not everyone but still more than a few people would make the same choice.
- Again, this will probably go against general opinion (from those I read on different places), but I liked the character development of Joo Hyuk. And yes, I do think he had one. He started out a completely self centered jerk, who only wanted his own happiness. He blamed his wife for his unhappiness. But slowly, as he got to know his own faults, as he realized his own mistakes, we started seeing his character grow. He wanted to make her happy. Even if it wasn't with him.
- Enough about the male lead, let's move on to the female lead. Woo Jin... At first she is portrayed like a "monster" who has a really short temper and is extremely violent. But later on we get to see what made her that way.
- One thing I really liked about this drama was the fact that how BOTH the leads were far from perfect. Although Joo Hyuk might be more so. Nevertheless we get to see them try and become better person. Both individually, and together.
- I really enjoyed the chemistry between Han Ji Min and Ji Sung. As a married couple, and as a non-couple too, they were believable.
- The second female lead- Hye Won. She is portrayed as a materialistic and vain person. I actually think she wasn't as bad as they were trying to show her. She behaved like she was entitled to everything, but she wasn't evil or villainous like a lot other SFL.
- The second male lead Jong Hoo, was a really good character. He was charming, but he never overshadowed the male lead enough to give you SLS. I really liked the bond between him and Joo Hyuk. It wasn't exactly bromance but they had a really nice friendship.
- All the other secondary characters were fun to watch. The mysterious ahjussi, Joo Eun, Woo Jin's mom... Everyone. My favorite was Sang Shik. His emotional scenes always got me smiling.
- Also Jo Jung Suk's cameo! Loved it! The whole thing was so cute! Joo Hyuk 's reactions XD
- As for the one thing that bothered me was about the children. How could they give us one, just one scene. I think everyone is aware of the fact that a parent child bond is truly a special one! So how could you not, writer-nim? This is just one thing I cannot get over.
- Overall, I really, really enjoyed this drama! It has everything, a spectacular cast, and intriguing storyline, a good OST. So please give this drama a chance.
Happy Watching!!
Was this review helpful to you?
- Yoon Shi Yoon's acting as Kang Ho was shaky, to say the least. As Soo Ho, he delivered better. Maybe he was trying to emphasize the fact that both brothers were extremely different. But all that we ended up seeing was Kang Ho overacting at every situation. At first, I didn't really mind, but then it got irritating. I really wishes he had toned it down a bit. His expressions were just all over the place.
- So Eun as a female lead was... Okay. Honestly, nothing worth remembering. She was extremely normal. But for some reason, I liked that fact.
- There were fun moments. Like whenever Kang Ho would out think the bad guys. Those scenes were awesome!
- The romance was cute.
- I still feel like some of the things were left unfinished. A few things that needed resolving. Maybe because they cut down on the number of episodes?
- Overall I'd say give it a watch if you have nothing else, nothing better, as an option. You never know, you might end up enjoying it.
Happy Watching!
Was this review helpful to you?
- This drama has its fair share of clichés, maybe even more, from rich man poor woman, boss falling for his secretary, possibility of a past connection, and many more. But the execution of these clichés is done in a way that's really enjoyable for the audience.
- A narcissistic male lead, who is NOT unlikeable at ALL. Other dramas need to take lessons from this one on how to write characters in such a good way.
We could never get enough of Young Joon expressing just how perfect he was.
- A hardworking and smart female lead. She does everything to accommodate her boss but at the same time, she doesn't let him push her around. Now that's something we love to see!
Also a side note, just how pretty is Park Min Young?!
- The chemistry between the leads!! They are so adorable together, and when they want to be, so , so hot too!
- The side characters are just as likeable to watch as the leads. Same goes for the side romances.
- Hard not to mention Mi So's dad. So very unlike the usual dad's (or just parents, in general) in Kdramas, he didn't get on his daughter's boyfriend for no reason. His scenes were just so fun to watch.
- Almost every episode would have (more than) one scenes that would leave you with a silly smile on your face. This drama is just pure fluff. While it had its serious moments, they far from overwhelmed the light, fun and cute scene. The drama is a breeze to get through.
- The 'main plot' of the drama gets resolved waay before the finale. Afterwards, it's just pure romance. While to some, it felt draggy at that point, to some, it was enjoyable to watch more of their OTP. The last two episodes specially, are pure fillers. But the kind of fillers you can actually enjoy. I guess it depends on the viewer to an extent.
- Over all, I'd say I really enjoyed this show. It's a great rom-com, one I'd recommend to people. But it's not something I'd rewatch. Still, I had an enormous fun time while watching it the first time.
Most probably you've already heard all the good things about this drama, and it's already on your PTW, but just in case it isn't, what are you waiting for? It's already completed, it has a great cast, a high rating, good comments- basically it's a complete package! So, please, go ahead and start this. You'll have a great time watching it!
Happy Watching!!
Was this review helpful to you?
The things that I liked about the drama:
-The storyline is unique. Not the one-person's-soul-entering-another-body thing. But the part that came after that.
- The acting is top notch. You can feel every emotion of Song Huun Chul, Hye Jin and Yun Hwa. Their struggle with this new reality that they face, that they never expected is portrayed wonderfully.
- The music is good. Specially the song 'Monochrome'. It fit the settings perfectly.
- The kid actors did a good job too.
- Not to sound like a fangirl or anything, but Kai is wonderfully and deliciously beautiful.
- The drama focused on human behavior. And the mesaage it send is a good one.
The things that I wasn't sure about:
- This was more of a slow paced drama. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. But around the middle part, it did seem a bit draggy.
- A lot of moral dilemmas involved in the drama which I wasn't sure how to feel about. While the drama wasn't solely focused on romantic relationships, to the extent that they were present, they were quite...well, complicated. I, as a viewer, wasn't sure if what the male lead was doing could be considered "right". If, there could be a right and wrong in such exaggerated fantasical situation.
Overall, it's a drama that deserves a chance. And it's quite enjoyable. So, go ahead and give it a try.
Happy Watching!!
Was this review helpful to you?
I won't go for a long review, so here goes-
- The comedy element, in this drama, is definitely at its best. I mean, is there any other drama where we have seen a girl with beard issues? I wouldn't think so. (If there is though, do tell me!). And that's just one of the many hilarious things that never failed to make the viewers laugh.
- Aside from the comedy, the drama also had its emotional moments. Although they were never so many that I'd call this an emotional drama. But it certainly managed to make the viewers go from rotfl-ing to "awwww"
- Romance factor was also nicely done. This drama is one of the very good examples of rom-com. Although, if I were being honest, I'd say that the comedy surpassed the romance. But it never overshadowed the romance. The pairings were fun to watch.
- Same goes for all the main six characters. All were fun to watch. But if I had to choose a favorite, it would be Joon Ki. I loved him because he was hilarious, but I adored him because of his caring side. All those scenes where he was trying to cheer up Seo Jin were so so cute!
- And how can we not talk about Sol? That baby was the show-stealer! She was simply too adorable.
- One flaw though, that I just have to mention is Yoon Ah 's character. I felt like her character was simply too one dimensional. I mean, don't get me wrong, I liked her character at first. But while all the other characters had some unique attribute that made them appeal to the viewers, it's like all Yoon Ah had going for her was the fact that she was a single mom. But after they stopped focusing on the single mom thing, it's like her character became somewhat...dull. That's one of the things I wish they had done better.
That's about it for the review! This is a wonderful drama and I really hope you give it a chance.
Happy Watching!!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
So when I read the synopsis for this drama, I was like, "Yeah, I'm gonna pass." And it wasn't because this seemed like yet another drama dabbling with the time travelling trope, albeit with a somewhat unique approach. No. It was actually because,... well how do I put this? I wasn't really sure if the theme of the drama would suit my taste or not, what with the main lead being a host and all. (Yes, I'm rolling my eyes at me too). Anyway, after seeing a few positive posts about this on the feeds, I decided to give it a chance. And, well, who am I kidding? Yamazaki Kento is as big as an incentive I'm ever gonna have to give a drama a go. Now that I have finished this drama, I'm glad that I went with it, 'cause I enjoyed it a lot. ( For the most part.)Now, on to the "actual" review:
- Not to sound redundant or anything, but let me just say that if you're a YK fan, you should really watch this. And if you're not, then you MUST watch this, because it'll make you his fan. Yes, the man (uh, boy?) has done that good of a job here. I'm not trying to underappreciate the rest of the cast or characters here (I'll get to them later). That being said, I believe that this is one of YK's finest works. First of all, because it's so different from all his previous roles (which even I can tell, even though I haven't seen all of his works.) And second, because he did such a tremendous job portraying Eight/ Otaro. So, do watch this, for him!
Okay, gushing over!
- This is the first time in my drama-watching life, that I've finally understood the allure of a 'bad boy'. Eight is no typical tsundere male lead. He, for sure, does not have a heart of gold. And he's definitely not misunderstood. He is a greedy opportunist. But you'll love him. Oh, you'll so love him. There is no other way! Even when he's downright manipulating someone, you won't be able to help but fall for his smirk. Seriously, that smirk (you'll know it when you see it)! Don't worry though, you will get to see his human side. But it won't be until much much later. And it'll just make you love him more.
- Now, on to the plotline. Like I said, at first glance, it might seem like a typical time travelling drama. It's not though, not really. Not just because their 'approach' to the whole idea was different. Since the synopsis is pretty vague, I won't go into much detail, just in case it gets spoiler-ish. So I'll just say that the storyline was actually pretty interesting, much more than it seemed. It's really intriguing, actually.
- The suspense in the drama is maintained at a good pace. I mean, it's not by any means, nail-biting suspenseful, but it did have it moments where the viewers were like, "Oh gosh, what's gonna happen now?!" Which was exaggerated if you watched it while it was airing (what with only one episode per week), even if (if being the keyword) it might not seem like that big of a deal if you're marathoning the drama. Still, I'd say the writers did a good enough job with the suspense genre.
- All the actors did a really wonderful job portraying their characters. Whether it was Saiko, Mikoto, Takauji, Harumi or any other character. The intensity of tension, anxiety, confusion, romance between them, it was really on-point. And that's actually one of things I really liked about this drama.
- About the ending. Once again, can't really say much about it, 'cause, spoiler! But if you happen to see a comment or two, and it makes you hesitate to watch this, please don't. Hesitate, that is. Just watch the first episode and you'll see for yourself what I mean.
- The OST is a good listen. I'm not familiar with J (or K/C) artists, but even I found the song catchy, and found myself humming ( 'cause that's all I can do, really) to it.
If you managed to not quit reading this review after the first two points (for all I know, all my gushing, erhm fangirling, over YK could have the opposite effect, and could have actually driven you away from the drama. In which case, gomenne) and got up to this point, I'll just say this. I seriously hope that you give this a chance.
Happy Watching!!
Was this review helpful to you?
- This drama has so many things to offer to the viewers, and amongst all those things, one is the heartwarming friendship. This drama has one of the most wonderful portrayal of frienships that I've seen, and not just between the prisonmates. They might be at that place for different reasons, but they learn to lean on, rely and look out for each other.
- One of the most enticing things to look forward to in dramas (I guess this comes under the 'friendship' point mentioned above, but I have to mention this separately)- Bromance! This drama has plenty of it. Not just between the two 'main' characters, but between every single character in the drama.The bromance moments aren't just that'll make you laugh, although those are present. But also, there are bromance moments that'll make your heart feel like it's brimming over with feels.
- This drama has some serious #SQUAD-GOALS. The 2B6 wing is freaking awesome!!
- The comedy in the drama is top-notch. It's more subtle in it's approach, but that doesn't negate it's effect. Infact that fact alone makes those comic scene laugh-out-loud worthy. Those humour scenes mostly result from Je Hyeok's various interactions in prison. As he himself likes to put it, he's a bit 'stupid' when it comes to things other than baseball, which leads to some hilarious situations. Ofcourse, other character too, more than contribute the comedy in the drama.
- This drama is about each and every character, not just the main lead(s). It focuses on every single character, whether they are inmates, correction officers, or their families. And that's what makes the viewers fall in love with the characters here. It's hard to find a drama where you love (almost) all the charaters, whether they have minor or major role. I loved so many characters here, I think it's even hard to pick a favorite. But Lieutenant Paeng does come really close.
- Every character has a story. Of who they are. Of how they got here. Of what they dream of. Of what are their hopes for the future. Their story gives us insight into their personalities, and is one of the many things, that makes the viewer close to them.
- Aside from the individual acting of all the actors, which ofcourse is truly commendable, the chemistry between the characters here is crazy good! From Je Hyeok & Joon Ho, Joon Ho & his brother to Looney & Kaist, every character interaction will have you craving for more!
- For the romance lovers, there is romance. It's a bit subtle and can't be considered a main genre. But it is a sub-genre, and it's more than enough, believe me.
- Let's be honest for a second, and admit that there's a lot of prejudice attached with the word 'prison' alone. And there's a reaso for it. Whether they are rightly or wrongly convicted, for the law, and henceforth for the 'general public' they're still criminals, whatever their crimes may be. Hence the prejudice. But in this drama, the writer tries, and is successful, in breaking our preconceptions about those matters. The writer, through this beautiful drama, stresses on the fact that the convicts are, before anything else, human. And just like everyone else, they are also trying to live their life. Some are trying to make the best of their situations, trying to learn from their past mistakes, and are hoping for a better future. At the same time, there are also those who have despaired, and given up on their future. The writer beautifully captures both these types of inmates,
- Have to mention the OST, ofcourse. The songs were good and fitting with the series. I specially liked the songs the 'theme song' "OK', ", 'Bravo My Life' by Eric Nam, Would Be Better' by Heize & 'Like A Dream' by Park Boram
- If you're hesitating because of the run-time of the episode, or if by any chance, you find the first few episodes 'slow', my advice for you would be to keep watching. With this drama, you just need to find your rhythm and pretty soon you won't even notice how long the episodes are. Of course, you could always love the drama right from the start!
Well, that's about it for the review. I hope you give this one a chance, because otherwise you'll be missing out on a wonderful drama.
Happy Watching!!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
If you're planning to watch Black, give it atleast 3 episodes. It takes about that much time for things, that at first might appear as random or scattered events, to form a vague connected picture of how things are supposed to be. Ofcourse, you could always love the drama right from the start, like me. But if the first two episode confuse/ frustrate you, please don't give up on it before atleast 3 ep, because it could just turn out to be a drama that you'll love.That being said, now on to the review:
- This is my first time seeing both Song & Go Ara.There's a lot of negative stigma attached with Go Ara, so I was a bit hesitatnt to watch this at first. However, her character here is alright. Ha ram, is by no means, the best FL out there. But she is not really among the worst ones either. At the very least, Go Ara's acting isn't cringeworthy or bad enough to drop this drama.Song Seung Heon is amazing! And I am, by no means, exaggerating. You'll see what I mean when you watch the drama. As Detective Han, he's kind and understanding. And as Black, he's ruthless and hostile.The only thing he cares about is getting his job done. Watching him become more human is one of the most enoyable things about this drama. I'll even go as far as saying that he's one of the best tsundere male leads out there. Although, putting him in that box seems too restrictive, since he was much more than that. Oh, and he's really, really sexy!
- The writing, to me, was one of the best things about this drama. Although to some, it might seem overbearing or even messy at times. And I do understand where they are coming from. The writing here is really intricate, detailed and connected. It's a drama where you have to pay attenton a lot. But instead of finding that annoying, I appreciated that. I specially loved the fact that how the things, that at first seemed irrelevant, became part of something bigger later on. Honestly, if I could, I'd rate the writing 11/10.
- When I first went into this drama, one thing that I didn't expect, and that one thing that really surprised me in a good way, was the comedy! Black is savage, yet so, so funny! Like a lot of supernatural beings out there, he thinks himself to be above the 'mere human beings. You can just imagine how his interactions with humans would result. Hilariously, ofcourse! The series has the deadpan humor, that I really enjoyed watching.
- The romance is a subdued part of the drama. Although, it's not the main focus, it's balanced in a good way. The romance between the leads is slow burn, but shippable. I personally think that the chemistry between the leads was good.
- I think this is one of those dramas that is worth marathon-ing. Each episode is so much filled with information, there's never a dull moment! And you'll NEVER see the twists coming, aside from the ones that the drama do let on.
- There are actually a lot of things I loved about this drama, as obvious from my rating. However, delving into them might lead into me (accidentally) giving out a spoiler, so I'd rather not say them.
I am not going to say that it's the best drama out there, in either thriller, fantasy or (subdued) romance genre. It even has a few (minor) loopholes, or facts that don't add up with the story. Despite that, it managed to keep me on the edge of my seat the whole time. The minute I started the episode to the minute it ended, I was thoroughly engaged and captivated. And for me, sometimes, that's the only thing that counts.
So, I'll just say that this is a really good, entertaining and a really well-done drama. And I'd definitely recommend this! So, I hope you give this a chance!
Happy Watching!!
Was this review helpful to you?
I simply started this drama on a whim, this was never originally on my PTW. But I'm so glad that I decided to watch it, because otherwise I would have missed out on such an epic drama.
Why you should give this a chance?
- One of the reasons I was hesitating watching this drama was because I thought it would be too "serious" for me. But like I said, it turned out to be really fun. There's still an underlying tone of seriousness, which is important for the show, mainly because it deals with subjects like infidelity, bullying, domestic violence etc. However, instead of having the dark, sombre energy that I first expected going into this series, this has more of a vibrant energy. Which might be easier for viewers to get into.
- The main characters: 3 strong women, and 1 country boy.
Jung Hye is a chaebol daughter, who is a straightforward and composed woman. Yet there's this vulnerability and innocence about her.
Mi Sook is a calm and subdued housewife, whose husband is a famous professor. She's probably the most rational one amongst all the other members, and never lets them go overboard with their revenge.
Hong Do is the eldest member of the Bok Ja club. She is the most courageous one amongst all the other members. She' always takes care of the other members, like her own family.
Soo Byum is the maknae of the group. Through various circumstances, he later on joins in the club too.
- The sismance is so strong here! Despite the fact that they have completely different personalities, they become a family together. They cheer each other on, they rely on each other, they support each other. Their relationship is one of, if not, the best thing about this drama. The Bokja Club unnies have become my favorite sismance!
- This drama is #SQUAD-GOALS! Although these four people met randomly, they had crazy good chemistry with each other. I loved how well they worked together. Each had their specefic roles. The witty one, the courageous one, the reliable one, and the straightforward one. Together, they formed one of the best squads I have seen in a drama. They came up with so unique, interesting and just plain awesome ideas to take revenge. I loved this squad!
- There's even a minor bromance going on with Hee Soo & Soo Byum, which I found adorable. And there are hints of romance speckled in too, just in case you were wondering.
If you're like me and for some reason hesitating to watch this drama, my advise to you is- give it a go. You never know, you might just come to love this like I did. I personally think this is one of those dramas that you shouldn't pass off. So I hope you give this drama a chance! Happy Watching!!
Was this review helpful to you?
Let me tell you why you shouldn't shelf this drama aside as 'yet another time traveling drama'
- The series focuses on our main leads, who have been married for 14 years and are getting divorced. It stresses on the fact that marriage is not simply the happy ending, as it's normally shown in dramas. Throughout the whole show, little by little, we get to see what it was that went wrong with our OTP in the first place. The drama portrays the painful reality of marriage.
- Going back in time to change one's past mistake might not appear to be a fresh idea for a drama. But believe me when I say this, that the execution is simply top-notch. This drama hits all the right notes for the viewers. This drama explores the question of If you could go back, back to the time before it all started, what would you do? Would you make the same decisions you made before? Or would you do something you didn't get to do before?
- This drama is just so beautifully realistic in it's approach. Whether it's the flashback scenes or back to the time 1999 scenes, every struggle, every problem, every situation that our leads face is handled in such a realistic way, that it's hard not to appreciate that.
- This drama is going to play with your emotions. And I mean this in the best way. One second, it'll make you laugh out loud. And the next, it'll have you tearing up. Specially the scenes of Seo Jin and Jin Joo with her mom will have you crying out loud. So better prepare some tissues, 'cause you're going to bawl your eyes out in every episode.
- The second lead syndrome is really strong in this one, there's no denying this. The first few episodes, (or in some cases, maybe throughout the whole drama) you're going to ship the leads with the second leads. Specially Nam Gil sunbae. He's simply...perfect. He's cute, kind, funny and well, always there for our lead girl. It's impossible not to fall for this guy.
- One of the best things about this drama, and one that I really loved is the narration by Ban Do & Jin Joo at the opening and ending scenes of every episode. I love how they start with something painfully honest, and end with something hopeful.
- Instead of asking yourself what does this drama has to offer you, question what doesn't it has to offer you. My answer- Nothing! Yup. Might sound unbelievable, but it's true. And you'll realize it too. This drama has everything from comedy, romance, friendship to slice-of-life and nostalgia. Every genre is balanced enough to give viewers an unforgettable watch.
- The OST is just beautiful and melodious. I have had plenty of dramas where I liked or even loved the OST, but this is one of the few rare dramas where I was moved by the songs. They are just so good and so fitting. My personal favorites being 'Dream' by Lucia & 'Wind Song' by Sohyang.
After reading my review, you might think I overused the word 'beautiful', but honestly, that's the only word I can describe this drama with. It's beautiful. It's heartwarminlgly and hearwrenchingly beautiful. So I sincerely hope that you give this drama a chance.Happy Watching!!
Was this review helpful to you?
PLOT: This is a lakorn about two people who are far from the ideal image they put on for others to see. One is conceited and self-absorbed, while other is unfaithful and looks at women as an object. The story is about how heaven punishes them for their sins by switching their souls. They panic, they cry, they get angry, but eventually decide to accept the fact that they had to live like that until they could go back to being normal. Both try to act each other's roles but not very convincingly. Going through all the obstacles make them learn to trust, respect and eventually love each other.
The highlight of body-switching dramas, for me, is the comedy. And the actors delivered it perfectly. Specially Nadech & Yaya, since the comedy scenes were mostly with one or both of them. And Mor, can't forget him. He was really funny, a good supporting actor. The drama, however, fell short in the romance department.
CHARACTERS & ACTING:
Petra Pawadee (Yaya) is a superstar, the 'Pearl of Asia' to be exact. To the world, she is the picture perfect nang'ek, and everyone loves her. But in truth, she is too arrogant of her beauty and her achievements. So much so, that she thinks everyone, form her manager to her costars, is below her. Yaya portrayed her character perfectly, specially after the switch. The 'manly' Petra was hilarious to watch. The way she walked in her heels, her monotonous and wooden acting that had everyone's mouth left agape, her interview- everything was done perfectly. Her actions scenes were flawless. This role just reaffirmed my love for Yaya.
Captain Ramin (Nadech) is a police officer, who risks his life to save others. But he's also a playboy, who likes to sleep around while already having a girlfriend. There was a time or two, or maybe more, when I actually wanted to punch him, mostly when he would lie to his girlfriend without breaking a sweat. There were two things that kept me going. First, that it was Nadech. And second, because the character development was the main plot of the drama. And the fact that his character annoyed me just showed how good of a job Nadech was doing. Fortunately enough, my annoyance didn't last long. Because the focus of the drama changed from establishing their faulty characters to showing us how they managed the body switch. Answer? Hilariously! Nadech as Petra never failed to crack me up. From the tone of his voice, his ridiculous outfits to his feminine way of walking, everything had me laughing out loud. Nadech did a brilliant job pulling off both characters.
Akom (Tor)...is a sweetheart. He's Ramin's subordinate as well as his friend. It's obvious that he is in love with Ramin's fiancée, but he never lets it show. My one complain about his character is that I wished he actually did something, anything except daydreaming. He did that a lot.
Nok Yoong (Ice) is Ramin's fiancée. The girl who refuses to see the faults of her boyfriend, even if the evidence is right in front of her eyes. Realistically speaking, if faced with a similar situation, I'm sure a lot of people would probably react that way. But that doesn't mean that it wasn't, sometimes, a bit annoying to watch. A bit annoying side characters like Aum, Tom, Ji-eun. Useless and pretty irritating.
OST: Both songs on the OST were good enough. Although nothing great, it was still an OK listen.
THE NEGATIVES:
- The romance factor doesn't really set in until the very later episodes. And even then it's not very well pronounced.
- Somewhat sloppy editing and directing. It had the potential to be a lot more, but at some points, fell short.
- It was too short. Given only 10 episodes, no matter the duration, the drama wasn't able to explore other characters other than the main leads. Hence, some characters aren't very fleshed out. They didn't have enough time to show exactly HOW much the leads had changed. Not to mention that the story seems rushed at certain points.
-The ending is somewhat...unusual. It didn't really work for me, but it could for you, so go in it with an open mind.
THE POSITIVES (a.k.a why you should give this a chance):
- The whole vibe of this show is so very different from a typical lakorn. Ofcourse, typical lakorns are just as, or sometimes more, interesting to watch. But if you're looking for something different, this is for you.
- NY did such a tremendous job, and I just cannot praise them enough. And their chemistry is as awesome as ever!
- It will have you laughing out loud at the lead's actions. They are both hilarious!
- With only 10 ep, it won't take much of your time. If you're looking for a short (as compared to other lakorns) watch, this is for you.
That's it for the review. I hope you give this a try! Happy Watching!!
Was this review helpful to you?
When it comes to J-dramas, I would fall into the 'beginner' category. So while I won't be able to tell you how good or bad it was as compared to other typical J-dramas, I'll try my best to tell you what I enjoyed in this drama.
THE STORY:
The plot-line of the drama is certainly a unique one. It's not everyday you see a drama where God Himself appears to help two people fall in love.
The drama follows Makoto who seemingly has the worst luck when it comes to women. It's not until a person claiming to be God appears before him that he finds out why. According to God, Makoto's bad luck in women is because he hasn't met his 'soul-mate' yet. Imagine his surprise when he finds out that his destined person works in the same office building as him, and they have met several times before, even without both of them knowing. Now, when it comes to making her fall in love with him, well, that's no easy feat, giving the fact that she cringes at the word 'destiny' alone.
THE CHARACTERS:
There are 3 main characters for this- Makoto (male lead), Haruko (female lead) and God.
-Makoto's character was a dedicated one. He was ready to do just about anything to make Haruko fall in love. And not just with her, his efforts to win over Haruko's dad as well as her best friend, were really commendable.
-Haruko's character may seem a bit annoying, at first, given that she pushes away our main lead repeatedly, when we know that he's such a good person. But try to imagine the situations from her perspective. A stranger comes along, and says stuff about them being 'destiny', her reaction was completely logical. Ofcourse, the circumstances in which her previous relationship ended, sure didn't help the situation, either. Despite of it all, she came to know him as a person and finally
-God's character was....awesome. He was my favorite character in the drama. And that's all I can say without spoiling anything.
-The supporting characters like Sadaoka, Sekihara, Mitsue etc, were also really interesting to watch. Specially their comedy parts.
THE PACING:
-The drama consisted of only 10 episodes. And the pacing was good.
-The twist they pulled out in the last few ep...Did not see it coming. It was perfect.
-
THE CON(s):
- Even though I understood the decisions the female lead male, her character was still somewhat frustrating. It just felt like her indecisive phase stretched for a bit too long.
-Unfortunately, for me, the bromance eclipsed the romance part of the drama. Although, that's not to say that the romance part was not interesting. But more like, I loved the bromance way more than the romance.
-This one is not really a con, but I wish they'd shown more of Ichirou in the last ep.
All in all, this was an enjoyable watch. I hope you give this a try.
Happy Watching!
Was this review helpful to you?
Honestly though, Radiant Office is not solely focused on the decisions that you make when you know you're going to die soon. In it's core, this drama is more of a corporate politics drama. But even that's not all it's limited to. It's a drama about friendship, about making it on your own, about telling yourself not to give up even when you've lost all hope, it's about second chances, and a lot other significant issues that people face in their life. However, instead of delving deeper into the emotional and not-so-emotional aspects of the drama, I'd just like to just point out the reasons why I enjoyed this show. So, here goes-
-First and foremost, it's because of the male lead. After watching the first two episodes, I was afraid the male lead was going to be a typical jerk one. Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong. Yes, he starts out as a jerk, but he changes so much. He actually turned out to be a really kind and caring person.
-Ha Won's character is very relatable. A job is not something that's handed to us as soon as we graduate, we have to work for it. But what if it doesn't matter how many times you try, you can't seem to reach your goal? Ha Won can't get a job even after trying 100 times. Her thoughts, her actions, her decisions- everything is portrayed so realistically, that it'll appeal to the audience.
-I loved the trio. They didn't exactly meet in the most preferable situation, but their friendship was one of the best things about the drama. The way they stuck with each other, it was so heartwarming. Even in the situations where they had to compete with each other, they never let it get in the way of their friendship.
-The lead couple was very cute. They went from hate to respect to tentative friendship to finally, something more. I loved it every-time they would have these little moments. One of my most memorable one is where he gives her the secret thumbs-up. It was beyond cute!
-The second couple- Ji Na and Ki Taek, had their charms too. Ji Na, for one, was a character that evolved the most, in the drama. Their relationship grew so much throughout the series.
-Chief Park's innermost thoughts were one of the most hilarious moments of the drama. It sounds so random, but I don't know, I found it really funny.
The could've-been-better(s):
-I wish the romance was a bit more pronounced. I understand that this is not primarily a romance drama, but well, the heart wants what it wants, right?
-I feel like Kang Ho's contribution towards the story wasn't as much as the other characters. To me, it felt like, his character wasn't as fleshed out.
-The last episode seemed a bit rushed. While the major issues were resolved, a lot of other things weren't.
So, that's it for the review. I hope you give this drama a chance.
Happy Watching!
Was this review helpful to you?
