This review may contain spoilers
The perfect mystery, thriller with a hidden, faint undertone of romance.
Wow. I have just finished this drama and few words can describe how I am feeling.It has been an absolute rollercoaster of a journey. I've been shocked, confused, scared, anxious, happy and overwhelmed over the course of this 12 episode drama. Even though there are some things that I didn't (and a few which I still don't) understand, this drama is definitely one of my top 3 kdramas ever!
Here are the things that I liked about this drama:
- The Cast! Oh. My Gosh. This star studded cast was on fire! Everyone outdid themselves! The emotions portrayed, the deliverance of lines, the visuals, the pure talent! A few of them deserve extra attention: Wi Ha Jun ( he was phenomenal, outstanding and the definite highlight of the show) , Kim Go Eun (she took this character and made her feel so raw, imperfect and human), Uhm Ki Joon and Uhm Ji Won ( these two scared the hell out of me in the most fantastic way).
- The Cinematography. Just watch it. You'll see why.
- Most of the characters. They were flawed, occasionally annoying, but for me personally this just added to the story. It's all about the imperfections of humanity (Greed, Naivety, Capitalism+Poverty, etc). My favourite character was Choi Do-Il, he just kept me on the edge of my seat the entire drama! I never knew whether to trust him or not, but he always pulled through.
- The Plot Twists. I don't think I am the easiest person ever to shock, but this drama continuously surprised me. These plot twists also gave the drama quite a steady pace.
- The Villains. Guys, people are scary. Do not judge a book by its cover. The villains in this drama have probably scared me for life.
The things I didn't particularly love:
- Oh In Hye. She just got on my nerves a lot. The ending redeemed her a bit for me as a character, but I still don't think I can say that I really liked her much as a character.
- I sometimes got quite confused whilst watching this drama. There are still a number of things that I don't really understand, but I think I probably just need to rewatch it. The times I felt confused never really took away from my general enjoyment of the show, but maybe just keep it in mind that you might feel like something doesn't make sense every now and again.
Two things to note:
- Don't go into expecting an adaptation of the classic novel of the same name. You will be disappointed. I have read a number of comments under this drama where people express their dissatisfaction at this and I think it is important to address. There are a few tiny minuscule similarities but that is it. I think it would be better to look at it from the perspective of it focusing on the lives of women who don't have power over their own lives. I also hope this perspective helps anyone who feels frustrated over the dissimilarities between the two.
- Historical distortion surrounding the Vietnam war. Look into it a bit yourself and ensure that you are educated on why people are unhappy with the lack of historical accuracy in this drama, so that you can watch it whilst being aware of this issue.
I truly loved this drama. I would 100% recommend it.
However, Prepare To Have Your Mind Blown!!!!
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Captivating, Refreshing, One Of A Kind
This drama was amazing. I wanted to write down all my thoughts about it here, so that you can decide whether or not you want to watch it. Personally, I think it is fantastic and I definitely recommend at least trialling it and it is much shorter than your average kdrama.The acting was BRILLIANT! I think they cast the right people for these roles. Ji Chang Wook who played his character fabulously! Choi Sung Eun and Hwang In Yeop were also amazing. They could all sing really well too! I feel like I have to mention Hong Jung Min and Nam Da Reum (this guy never disappoints, his acting is phenomenal) too, these guys were also fantastic.
The cinematography was stunning. It truly was food for the eye, they did not disappoint in this area at all!!! Kudos to the special effects team!
The story was good (the message of the drama and its approach to looking at loneliness/stress/pressure/poverty/depression were really good). The only thing I wish they would've added is some romance or something the cast - especially Ji Chang Wook and Choi Sung Eun - had such great chemistry with each other! (I do acknowledge that it wouldn't quite have fit it the age difference between their two characters would've been a bit weird )
The musical element was refreshing - some people thought it was unnecessary and forgotten about half-way through, I thought it added to the magic of the story and was beautiful. I will admit that it did feel a little out of place at some points, but I did love it and the songs were great too. The OST in general was so captivating, whoever composed the musical songs did a great job and the others selected were just as captivating.
I think it was really good for only 6 episodes. But maybe if it had been 8 that could’ve developed Ri Eul and Yoon Ah Yi’s relationship more, there were some sections where I felt that they cut it short.
It did take an unnecessarily darkish turn towards the end (I haven't read the webtoon so I can't compare it to that) and I think they could've gotten the same message across in a different way.
I would have loved it if two characters reunited face to face at the end (if you know you know), but the musical-like ending was really cool :)
You can tell that lots of hard work went into this drama and I think it deserves all the love and attention that it gets. It definitely won’t be for everyone and that's okay, but this drama resonated with me a lot and I think it will with others too. There were a few things I would personally would've changed/added, but they didn't take away from my enjoyment whilst watching the show.
The Sound of Magic made me laugh, cry, smile and I will definitely rewatch it! 100% recommend giving it a try :)
✨annarasumanara✨
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Quite Possibly Your Next Comfort Kdrama
This drama was a pure joy to watch! With its unique plot of carefully woven together stories, Jealousy Incarnate is one of the best romantic comedy kdramas out there! The 24 episodes can seem scary before starting the drama, but once you get sucked into it there is no getting out!24 hours of happiness.
This dramas beautifully portrays the complexity of love, examines the different shapes and sizes of families, looks at male breast cancer (and the prejudices towards it) and explores some aspects of asexuality. Combine all of this with fiery chemistry, on point comedic timing and you have Jealousy Incarnate.
Personally, I would've liked the love triangle to play a less significant roll in the show as it was so painful at times. That said it never took away from the my enjoyment of the show.
Overall, I would recommend this drama to anyone who loves a good romantic comedy, Jealousy Incarnate may well be your next comfort kdrama!
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I 110% recommend this kdrama!
A Business ProposalSoooo A Business Proposal just finished and although the last episode was kind of rushed, I loved the whole series! I can totally see myself re-watching this in the future! I loved the characters (the Grandad made me laugh so much, he's so relatable!), the acting was fantastic, the OST was so so so good, and the overall story was beautiful! I wish the ending hadn't been as rushed and that we’d seen a wedding or two, but I'm glad it wasn't a full 16 episodes. I don't think it would've worked well, it would've meant dragging things out and the show would've lost its spark. I should give it a 10/10, but I think it's a 9.5 because I'm being picky about the ending.
Oh, and one last thing, this was one of the first series where I loved both the lead couples! I thought both the main and second lead romances were beautifully crafted, they oozed so much chemistry and were heart-racingly amazing to watch!!!
Here are some reasons why you should watch it:
• The Grandfather
• The bromance and the sismance 💖
• The OST 10/10
• Its shorter than most kdramas
• It was definitely made to be binged watched
• THE CHEMISTRY 🔥
• The comedy scenes (the fake Jin Young Seo scenes were hilarious)
• The friendship between the leads
• Samantha and Rachel (if you know you know) 😏
• The perfect use of glasses, to enhance someone’s attractiveness and spice up scenes
• And all the feels! 🥰
• It is an ultimate rom-com in which clichés are used perfectly and mainly not in a cringy or awkward way.
Reasons you may not enjoy it/want to watch it:
• It’s a classic all out romantic comedy so if you hate all things trope filled and romantic, it's probably best to avoid this drama.
• If you passionately hate any sort of trope/cliché, then you might not like this show even though in my opinion they used them really well
• It has its cringe moments, just like any good rom com
• You may find that the whole drama is just moving too fast. This kdrama is only 12 episodes so they had to ensure that the storyline moved quickly (I think this was done and handled really well, although another episode of an extended episode 12 would’ve been nice)
All that being said, this drama made my Mondays and Tuesdays so much more enjoyable, and I totally recommend treating yourself and watching this kdrama!
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L’amour est la poésie des sens ~ Love is the poetry of the senses <3
This drama took me by surprise.I didn't watch it as soon as it started airing but after seeing an edit of instagram about the characters I had to take a look.
I was hooked from the start. I have eagerly awaited Mondays and Tuesdays ever since I started the drama. Watching this drama became the highlight of my week. I think it's fair to say it is now my all time favourite. Which to be honest is strange, as I usually lean more towards things with action/thrill as well as romance. I just ended up loving every part of this drama.
The story was phenomenal. Each character played an important role and each character was a joy to watch over the course of the show. Their story arcs were unique, interesting and filled with the rawness of true emotions. I liked the jumping between the past and the present, slowly piecing together the whole story and I loved the documentary aspect to the drama. I also loved the artistic part of the story linked to Choi Woong. I thought it added a depth to his character and his story.
The cast were incredible. I thought everyone did a superb job at playing the character they had been given. I could not and would not want to see anyone else play these fantastic characters. From Kim Da Mi to Park Jin Too and back to Choi Woo Shik everyone was amazing at bringing the characters to life.
The music was unique and beautiful. From the intro to the hit Christmas Tree by V, each song added to the beauty of this drama. I for one have been listening to the music non-stop.
Like some kdrama watchers I struggle to re-watch a show all the way through again no matter how much I loved it. But I can see myself rewatching this drama very soon and loving it every bit as much.
So… would I recommend this Korean drama? Yes, yes I would. That's not to say it would be for everyone because it definitely wouldn't suit some people's tastes. However, I would really recommend this if you are looking for a show with a gripping but beautiful storyline and deep and meaningful characters.
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WOW WOW WOW
Kind of a review:Child actors/actresses are amazing! Seen the main guy in stuff before, always been amazed by his incredible acting. Hadn’t seen the main girl in anything. But OMG she is so fantastic! Truly blown away.
Jang Ki Yong is growing on me. I like his acting more and more. I thought he was void of emotions at first. But he keeps getting better. His haircut though. Yikes… Too harsh for his face.
Jin Ki Joo is just amazing!
Plot is good. Really enjoying it
Every single actor is bloody amazing!
Time jumps??? IT WORKED. Made sure the story was realistic and not boring!! <3
No forgiveness?
His haircut has improved (yay^^)
Unique!
The emotions are so raw and real.
The leads chemistry!!!!
Kim Kyung-nam! Wow. Just wow.
PLOT TWIST!
KIM KYUNG NAM!
Still not a massive fan of Jang Ki Young's acting. He’s okay though, it’s a tough character to do.
Kim kyung nam’s acting is amazing! I love the depth he brings to his character!
Not a fan of Gil Moo Won tbh his character is a bit whiny and annoying sometimes
THE PLOT TWISTS!
These people are psychos! Yoon Hui Jae & Co.
Yoon Hyun Moo… this character makes me feel so many emotions, I just want to give him a hug
Oooh Gil Moo Won is growing on me
I took a short break in between watching each half of this drama. I think I just needed to get used to Jang Ki Young's acting again. I’m liking it a lot more
I hope he smiles more (he = Yoon Na Moo)
Good acting from the guy working with the bad guy
There’s a lot of hugging in this drama….
WHY IS THIS DRAMA LEAVING NETFLIX :(((((((
Well that was tense
FAB-U-LOUS!
Kim Kyung-Nam and Seo Jung Yeon are just amazing!
Slightly underwhelming ending but 10/10
Overall, I loved this drama! I was always on the edge of my seat! Loved all the characters! The actors/actresses were phenomenal! I think some else could've done a better job than Jang Ki Yong at playing the lead, I occasionally found him to be a bit emotionless/monotone. HOWEVER, he did grow on me and it didn't take away from the experience I had watching the drama! One last thing, KIM KYUNG NAM is absolutely incredible!!!
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SUCH A HIDDEN GEM!
Now before I get into this review I would like to make it clear that although I finished the series and have given it 8.5/10 overall, I did skip a significant amount of scenes in the middle of it. There is a reason behind why I skipped and why I still gave it such a high rating, but I'll explain that in the review.I watch kdramas on netflix. So when I saw that one I’d never heard of was coming the following week I just had to check it out. I found the idea behind the kdrama interesting, especially the story behind the two lead characters. As soon as this drama came onto netflix I began to watch it straight away.
The first few episodes had me hooked. I loved how real the characters felt. I immediately connected with the two main leads and I loved watching the story blossom and bloom around them.
However, as the series progressed I found that I was only watching it for the two leads and their story. I realised I wasn’t really fussed about many of the other characters or the overarching story line about building on the site where the crash happened. This is what led to my skipping quite a bit in the middle. I still understood the main story line and the milestones in it still made sense and were just as emotional. I just felt like there were lots of filler scenes (not necessarily episodes) that just didn’t add anything to my experience.
On the other hand, the romance and story surrounding the male and female leads was just beautiful! I was 100% invested in their story the whole way through the series, it was the only thing that stopped me from dropping the series to be honest. Their relationship and how it developed (and its ups and downs) felt so real.
Overall, I recommend watching this drama, but you might find it easier to get through by skipping some parts you find less interesting. I totally recommended watching this just for the leads if you really can’t push through the other parts. <3
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This one has soooo much potential!
I had quite high expectations going into this drama and most of them were met. However, there are a few things that just took the joy out of the drama for me.1) It was way too long. The series could have been completed and wrapped up nicely in 16 episodes rather than 20 episodes in which they really had to add in useless sub-storylines in order to make the characters' lives more stressful. They really tried to drag it out in the last few episodes.
2) The cheating aspect. Now maybe it's just me and my own personal opinions, but there are a few reasons I hated this aspect of the show. I didn't like how it was handled, the way in which the characters reacted to it, the way it was brushed to the side as if it was inconsequential and how everyone involved ended up being great friends at the end. For me, I don't think it added anything to the show and I don't think it was portrayed in a realistic way.
3) The discovery of the murderer and what came afterwards. When the series finished I just felt dissatisfied with this part of the story.
On the other hand, there are other parts of the show that I adored!
1) The natural development of the romance and how it wasn't rushed (however I felt like the FL became kinda annoyingly slow and wishy-washy towards the end)
2) The acting. Thumbs up to all the actors/tresses! <3
3) Ji Chang-Wook as the ML (Don't think I need to explain why)
4) The first 8 to 10 episodes were a joy to watch! They just hit the mark each time!
So Overall, give this drama a go. It is certainly worth watching, just don't take it too seriously. Also, don't feel bad if you skip/skim through the slower parts; it'll make it more enjoyable to watch :)
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Before watching this drama I didn't understand why it was so hyped. Now I do!
So, I am relatively new to kdramas, but my gosh this drama was absolutely worth the hours I spent watching it. For me there is nothing worse than getting to the end of the drama and feeling like you've just wasted 16+ hours of your life. I have no regrets after watching this!This drama was an absolute joy to watch! The action was amazing. The chemistry was swoon-worthy! The OST was mind-blowingly beautiful and the story was amazingly crafted! I was never bored watching this and I definitely recommend watching it if you haven't already.
One major thing I would like to point out is that although there are a few minor things I would've changed regarding the storyline, I have still given this a 10/10 because of a number of reasons:
1) I felt extremely satisfied after finishing the drama.
2) I connected with all the characters (even the women from the village in North Korea).
3) This drama took me on an emotional roller coaster ride
4) I believe that one thing that occurred in the second to last episode will have upset many people like me, and although I thought it didn't add anything to the drama I didn't make me like it any less.
Things I liked:
- The limited use of cliché (I know some people will argue with me here but to me it felt moderate and not too over the top or cheesy)
- The chemistry between the two leads *insert chef's kiss*
- The OST (stole the show multiple times)
- The mixing of genres (if you are looking for a pure romantic comedy then this is not for you) - I loved the romance, comedy, action and mystery aspects
- The realistic ending (the way they didn't ignore the whole premise of the show so that there would be a happy ending for the characters (not spoilers saying who)
- The cinematography and special effects - thumbs up the the incredible production crew behind this drama
- The characters and the acting behind them *insert face of awe*
- The story as a whole, the way in which everything fitted together and how I was hooked until the very end (didn't want to drop the drama at all)
Things I didn't like (as much):
- Parts of the second to last episode
- Some of the tiny parts which were a little slow for me
- When some characters were almost too "_" in order to add more comedy to the show
Overall, I loved this drama and would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes a rom-com with that little bit extra (action, romance and plot twists!!!
Happy Kdrama watching :) <3
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The Red Sleeve = Rollercoaster Ride
Reviews for dramas are often super lengthy so I'll keep this one really simple:- emotionally traumatising
- outstanding writing/script
- some of the best acting I've seen in dramas
- the best sageuk drama (in my opinion)
- brilliant acting (extra points to Lee Jun-Ho! he shined throughout!)
- not for everyone (especially if you like fast [romance] storylines)
- beautiful cinematography
- amazing OST
- so much chemistry!
- based on a true story (google it), which explains some of the decisions made for this programme
- if I wasn't really picky it would've been a 10
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Interesting Idea, But Messily Executed
Where Stars Land:So I got half way through this drama and although I was enjoying it I knew it was not one I wanted to spend 16 hours of my life watching. I ended up choosing to skip through It felt almost like it was trying to achieve the sci-fi vibe of Are You Human Too?, whilst also striving for the working/office romance vibe seen in shows like of Forecasting Love and Weather. Nevertheless, I don't regret starting this drama and not completely dropping it. So I’ll tell you what I liked/didn't like to help you decide if you want to watch it or not.
I'll like to start on a more positive note:
- Lee Je Hoon and Chae Soo Bin as the leads (I think they did have chemistry with each other but also played their characters well. I was impressed by Chae Soo Bin as I had been disappointed with her performance in I Am Not A Robot - but that may just've been because the whole drama idea was strange to me)
- Not only was the cast food for the eyes, but the majority of them were skilled actors/actresses.
- Kim Kyung Nam (this guy is amazing! He blows me away with his acting skills every single time!)
- Lee SooKyung (I hadn't seen her in anything before but I thought she did a great job at portraying her character!)
- Kim Kyung Nam and Lee Soo Kyung! (This was another show in which I much preferred the second couple to the main one, they had great chemistry and seemed so real)
- Rowoon (This guy always surprises me with his acting skills, I think he deserves a lot more than he gets as an actor. He did really well considering he was only 22 when filming)
- The airport setting (at first I thought this would be a really boring setting, but I thoroughly enjoyed most of what it added to the show)
And now here is what I didn't like:
- The negative view of having a disability (yes it did look briefly at the stigma and the show sort of looked at how many aspects in society are not accessible for those in a wheelchair, but the show could've ended with Lee Soo Yeon finding happiness whilst being in his wheelchair or the crew should've tried to confront social stigmas surrounding disabilities head on rather than implying that Lee Soo Yeon would only feel happy if he was "normal").
- The storyline felt very repetitive and it could've been completed in 10/12 episodes. (Hence why I skipped a number of scenes after the show hit the halfway point).
- I did not understand much of anything revolving around Seo In Woo.
- Plot Holes! These were so annoying! (So many characters/potential storylines were introduced and then just chucked away
- The airport/workplace environment clashed with the gangster or sci-fi aspects.
- That very end scene (if you know you know)
- There wasn’t enough backstory for a variety of characters!
This show is definitely not for everyone, but if you're looking for a drama that won't be a big commitment try this one as you can skim and skip scenes through the drama and not lose out on the enjoyment of watching it. Happy Watching! <3
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