That Rare Gem in Drama

The series is superb and heading for greatness in the KDrama lists of its classics. First, there are wonderful aspects of "My Dearest"--great acting from the entire cast, superb writing, excellent, careful direction, deeply moving sound track, and more. Yet along with the carefully evolving FL, who is superb, it is the master class in acting that Namkoong Min is developing for us that makes me gasp. I am so deeply touched by what he has given both to AEJ as her Co-Star to work with and to us for our enjoyment. It is an unforgettable work of dramatic art in both his delicacy and strength. Plus those deeply expressive eyes and his quiet, beautiful voice. He has worked so hard for years and become one of the finest actors of his era.

This series began by teasing us with flirtations and long looks: a beautiful man with a fan loving a charming woman more than himself. It then advanced to the man dropping the fan that was only a distraction anyway to the real man, the experienced warrior behind those eyes who risks his life repeatedly, and the "girl on a swing" revealing herself as a brave warrior who assumes the leadership role to protect other women and children.

The series has steadily moved us through numerous scenes of increasing danger and heartbreak, that were leading us to where we are now. It is a love story, yes, but it is also about invasion, war, escape, resistance, horror, and the violent treatment of the poor, elderly, women and children in a horrific reverse of their community into a war zone with them as the sacrifice.

It is terrifying, heartbreaking. And no love story can change that. But it can give us hope. The woman in the love story is brave and resolute in protecting others. GC has become the woman LJH saw and fell in love with the first day as he watched her floating high on the swing. And he is not just the man who loves and protects her but is also revealed as the resistance fighter who saw her and knew who she was. As he tells Ryang, "you do not know what she means to me." But we do. They are both wonderful as is this constantly evolving story.

Update

"My Dearest" Eps 18 & 19
I was able to sit down with my morning coffee and enjoy both episodes this weekend.

And it was very interesting to see how the entire series was moving this way all along—just as the writer and direction teams intended. For this is not just the romance most of us here share an abiding hope will be fulfilled, but also a historical study of the Qing invasion and its effects on Joseon, its people at all levels, and its future. These are all seen in the madness of the king taken out on his own people and family, the grief of the people-symbolized in the death of the baby, that the mother must bury with her own hands—and the shared anguish of the citizens just trying to return home but slaughtered by the misuse of power.

Additionally, there is more than one love story, and they are on multiple levels. But of course the central love story is that of JH and GC, who at the beginning seem to be a man with a waving fan but who is so much more, and a woman with a rising swing who finds out who she really is through his love for her. If the writer closes next weekend the way she seems to be moving, the outcome will be complex, as is the historical reality. And it should also become one of Drama's greatest achievements. But even if it falls short, the writer, production team, cast, and composers have given us a series that many of us love. That is an achievement in itself. So onward to next weekend and closure with hope and maybe a few tears.

Final Episodes 20-21 Closure

There are tragedies, of course: this is a violent invasion; we will lose characters we care about and be disappointed in some others. But there are also blessings: GC’s growth into the strong, protective, loving woman she becomes is one of the finest in film. And JH always knew who she was. Ahn Eun Jin's transition in her performance is magnificent. And even the princess who wants JH so much does the right thing in the end: because she in fact does love him in her way. The cast on all levels is one of the most talented in KDrama—and they made us care. The production team taught us about the Qing invasion of Korea along with the monstrous political behavior of Koreans in power, and kept those effects, especially on the people, firmly in front of us.

Min Nam Koong as Jang Hyun created one of the most heroic characters in film, and he does it with his deceptive fan, steady calm, interrupted when needed by explosive defenses of his people and the woman he loves. But he is also funny, ironic, and adorable, created through his warm, beautiful voice, and the delicate expressions from his eyes and mouth. The man is simply beautiful and so gifted we fall in love with his characters. All of the cast and production team are outstanding—but it is Min Nam Koong who commands every scene he fills—and we cannot look away.

So though I didn't like JH getting beaten up all the time and being forced to use the amnesia trope not once but twice—I love "My Dearest" and its cast and production team and especially the character Jang Hyun that Min NamKoong created and so many of us fell in love with. He is one of the finest actors in the world today, and new fans are discovering him every day.

What a wonderful experience is this fine drama.
—AJ McAninch

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The Cast is Better than the Storyline

I think the scores are so high because of the MLs’ enormous popularity as well as a really fine cast. On this level, I did enjoy myself watching the actors have a great time with their parts. The problem for me is the writing is uneven, with too much repetition, some frankly boring scenes esp at the beginning that stretched, and way too many episodes. This series would have been stronger if much shorter and better focused. I had an okay time watching it, but—though I love both the leads—I would never watch it again, and that’s my personal test case for a great film or series.

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Begins okay but loses its way

The scores for this series steadily go down; in fact they plummet. Though KDrama and films are among the best in the world—maybe THE best—most fans know that they are not all superb or even all good. So when many people who love it so much score some of them like this one so low, there is a reason. We feel they are not very good, and there are too many more that are. I watched all 6 eps, and regarded it as a muddled mess, heavily influenced by the western demand for repetitious violence, sex for sex’s sake, cliches, weak character development, and just a lot of plot and character confusion. It’s a shame because though they work so hard, the actors’ talents are wasted in this series.

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The Lady in the Swing and the Man in Love

I rarely give a 10; the last one was "Crash Landing on You," almost 3 years ago. This series is over half completed with the 2nd half now well underway. It began by teasing us with flirtations and long looks: a beautiful man with a fan loving a charming woman more than himself. It then advanced to the man dropping the fan that was only a distraction anyway to the real man, the experienced warrior behind those eyes who risks his life repeatedly, and the “girl on a swing” revealing herself as a brave warrior who assumes the leadership role to protect other women and children.

The series has steadily moved us through numerous scenes of increasing danger and heartbreak, that were leading us to where we are now. It is a love story, yes, but it is also about invasion, war, escape, resistance, horror, and the violent treatment of the poor, elderly, women and children in a horrific reverse of their community into a war zone with them as the sacrifice.

It is terrifying, heartbreaking. And no love story can change that. But it can give us hope. The woman in the love story is brave and resolute in protecting others. GC has become the woman LJH saw and fell in love with the first day as he watched her floating high on the swing. And he is not just the man who loves and protects her but is also revealed as the resistance fighter who saw her from the beginning and knew who she was. As he tells Ryang, “you do not know what she means to me.” But we do, and they would both do anything to save the other in this constantly evolving love story moving steadily into the finest of Korean Dramas.

"My Dearest" Eps 18 & 19
I was able to sit down with my morning coffee and enjoy both episodes this weekend.
And it was very interesting to see how the entire series was moving this way all along-just as the writer and direction teams intended. For this is not just the romance most of us here share an abiding hope will be fulfilled, but also a historical study of the Qing invasion and its effects on Joseon, its people at all levels, and its future. These are all seen in the madness of the king taken out on his own people and family, the grief of the people-symbolized in the death of the baby, that the mother must bury with her own hands-and the shared anguish of the citizens just trying to return home but slaughtered by the misuse of power.
Additionally, there is more than one love story, and they are on multiple levels. But of course the central love story is that of JH and C: who at the beginning seem to be a man with a waving fan but who is so much more, and a woman with a rising swing who finds out who she really is through his love for her. If the writer closes next weekend the way she seems to be moving, the outcome may be as complex, as is the historical reality. And it may also be one of Drama's greatest achievements. But even if it falls short, the writer, production team, cast, and composers have given us a series that many of us love. That is an achievement in itself. So onward to next weekend with hope and maybe a few tears. Either way, it's been a grand ride.

—AJ McAninch.

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Excellent cast and direction; good series that flattens out

Wonderful cast and direction. But to me the series seemed to split, bog down, and then fall apart. When this happens, and the series has both a superb cast and fine director, then it’s either the writer or the promo people behind the scenes wrapping things up instead of coming to closure. Or both. At any rate, the first half is excellent and totally involving, quite intricate and an emotional roller coaster. Second half didn’t seem to match the tempo, and characters were flipped so much it was sometimes not very believable. But I did like the series, which is why I was disappointed by the pacing and seeming flattening out. Yet the cast is really great throughout. Recommended with reservations.

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Cast Shines in This Boardroom Drama

I will watch any series/film Lee Bo Young is in. She’s one of my top 10 favorite actors as is her great husband, Ji Sung. And the entire cast in this one is also outstanding along with most of the writing and directing.

Though I usually don’t care for boardroom politics and business shenanigan plots—which sometimes bog down this story also—it is generally a very enjoyable, satisfying series. Particularly fine are the delightful engagements of characters and, except for the occasional unfortunate screeching, the strong, confident women in mutually supportive and leadership roles are a delight.

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The Lady and The Swordsman

I first saw this film over a decade ago and loved it. I re-watch every few years or so. Yes it has flaws, but the relationship between the leads is warm and touching. I watched it for them and still love it to this day because they also are among the most talented Korean stars and made me love their characters. The film introduced me to Korean movies 13 years ago, and I've loved them since.

For me the beauty of the film, based on history but with a romantic overlay, is its story of the young queen's devotion to duty, as well as the swordsman's devotion to honor—and protecting her. He will not leave her side, and she is equally brave and stalwart. It is the story of a woman's love of country and a swordsman's love of her. And it's achingly exquisite.

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Uneven Script and Direction

This series is being review bombed on Google and IMDB. I was one of the viewers who thought the early episodes were slow, but I hung in and glad I did. Regarding the controversy: I love the leads and will watch them every time. They and the rest of the cast worked hard, and they did have some good moments during the series. There were sweet love scenes and a wonderful scene between mother and son that brought tears. Junho nailed that emotional moment as he is an actor who knows how to be still and let his eyes speak for him. He can rise to the moment even with a weak script. But this drama was uneven from the beginning, even without the episode that offended many viewers and with a clumsy, dull ending. Those issues lie right at the feet of the writer and director. What a shame because the cast and audience deserved so much better.

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Superb cast; sketchy plot sequences

The cast is superb: I love the characters and story lines. And I adore both leads: he is subtle and calm with a wry sense of humor; much of his acting is through his eyes alone. She is adorable and spunky, more than a match for his highness. Their scenes together are funny and touching; the growing affection and mutual protectiveness come through poignantly. Support cast is excellent, and I cared about their characters, especially the 2nd male lead who nearly steals the drama he’s so good. My only complaint is the writing could have been tighter, and the plot strengthened. 16 eps might be better than 20 because the longer series too often flounder in repetitive plot re-enactments and filler scenes. Still, I recommend the series: though for me the series just misses being great, it’s very good, and I’m glad I watched it.

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Flawed But Watchable

Shaky first episodes, often clumsy scene sequencing early on, playing games with viewers in final episode, around a cringey even potentially sexist attitude toward strong, smart women, but they eventually got it right with good closure that calls out public shaming, doing it through affirmation of both strength and love. The cast is very good and work hard with the director for some enjoyable and sometimes charming moments. Recommended as a watchable but not superior drama—which is totally on the writer in this drama for not having a clear plan for the message being attempted. In an age of superior international movies and dramas, that cannot stand, and neither can the weak drama.

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Great cast and director; weak female character development

This is a good series, but it does sag occasionally because the sequencing can be too long and limp for the actual plot and character development. Not enough attention is given to developing the female leads or the relationships between characters. It puts more emphasis on plot than on character development, but even then the writer leaves too many holes that she continues to spin, and not effectively. However, the series can definitely be recommended for its terrific cast and directors who keep the audience’s attention throughout despite the writer’s occasional oversights.

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Sad Exit for a Great Actress

Considering the cast and director of Train to Busan, this film should have been far better, but the writing and storyline are both thin and clumsy. Some scenes are simply dropped in the middle as if they couldn't figure out what to do with them next. So the film ends up fragmented and changes into an often frenzied, overly long action piece. However, there are some nice visuals in set designs, the two veteran female leads are wonderful, and the mother-daughter story is moving. The tragic death in May of Kang Soo Yeon is heartbreaking. She was a deeply respected Drama star in the original Korean Wave, so this film should have been such a comeback for her. Instead, it is her sad epitaph: And she is wonderful. RIP Lovely Lady ?

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Violence in the schools is assault.

I am both a parent and a teacher.

The behavior from the first episode is not “bullying” but assault. Let’s call these attacks what they are. Assault is a crime no matter the age or the perpetrators’ roles whether directly attacking, or making the attacks possible. Rather than the numerous drama series showing the criminals attacking other students always with impunity, expose physical and verbal assault in the school system for what it is: a crime punishable by expulsion and imprisonment.

For the victim to become obsessed and as vicious as the criminals—while understandable—makes her no better. I am still waiting for a brilliant writer like this one to stop the histrionics and go after the criminals and their supporters carefully and methodically and legally until they are expelled and imprisoned. Because it never should have gone as far as it was allowed. And it won’t stop until it is exposed and punished in the courts. That said, everyone in this drama is excellent. Think how much more they could have been in a true revenge story resolved through the courts.

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Respect the Audience

When you offer a love story about two really sweet people who take care of others and are devoted to one another, you do not then tack on a deliberately hurtful ending without explaining anything at all. Nothing. We don’t know why it happened. We don’t know why the writer did it almost immediately, and we don’t know why his beloved never tried to find him, ask about him. For so many years……Nothing. Yet the couple the writer and crew taught us to love never would have done that to one another, nor would a good writer have done it to the audience who loved them.

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Predictable Zombie Fest

I thought the cast worked hard and well. But I also thought this series could have been limited to about 8 eps at the most. For me there was too much repetition of Zombie tropes and cliches in the storyline as well as from the genre itself, and slow pace-often dragging itself along. Frankly, I got tired of the Zombies and am probably tired of the whole genre. And this one guy making what amount to apocalyptic decisions is not believable. That said, I really did like the cast, who made me care about them, which kept me watching. But still, the plot itself is predictable and underwhelming except for a few threads that touch the heart. It is okay, but no Train to Busan, Sweet Home, or Kingdom.

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