addicted2dramas
India
Charades with ghosts and doctors
'Ghost Doctor' is the first kdrama of 2022 that I've religiously been keeping up with every week. What attracted me to it was the premise of ghosts and comedy within a hospital setup with Rain and Kim Bum as the leading stars. While this drama just screamed funny to me looking at the poster, I admit I enjoyed it much more than I anticipated while not having much expectations from it. The combination of Rain and Kim Bum didn't strike me as interesting upon first preview but the bromance is what hard carried the show.PLOT:
The plot was pretty straightforward and predictable in the sense that I could sniff Cha Young Min's redemption journey from the very first episode. It's basically an opposites meet premise only that here there's a rude professor "haunting" his kind student Seung Tak - both while alive and unconscious. The first half of the show was pretty funny and I would just keep laughing out loud for majority of the times. Here the ghosts in the hospital are used as a comic relief rather than as a horror angle. There was also a deeper side to things that showed that even dead or half-dead people are ultimately humans and all of us struggling in ways others might not know of. I did like the emphasis it placed on compassion and friendship for people we even choose to dislike. While the drama maintains its light tone throughout, the supernatural angle itself was very inconsistent. The drama lost a lot of direction in the later half which left much more to be desired. The ending wasn't the worst but it was very dragged and the mystery of Cha Young Min ever waking up stopped mattering to me by ep 13 or so.
CHARACTERIZATION:
One of the weak points of the drama is the writing itself and while it set up the first half wonderfully, a lot of subplots started going stale and forced very quickly following ep 10. There were a lot of repetitive scenes and some of the potential character development just didn't happen. Go Seung Tak's development was IMO one of the key aspects of the story but it was done very half-assedly. Cha Young Min's plot was mostly fine but the strong bro vibe I felt between him and Seung Tak was quite weak in the later half. Other than that the female characters served little to no purpose sadly. The supporting cast of ghosts was quite okay but they got more screentime than I thought they deserved. There were few brief episodic cases which I found to be fine. The baddies in the plot seemed unnecessary and very unconvincing to me most of the times.
CAST:
I thought Rain and Kim Bum were well-casted and I also enjoyed Sung Dong Il's performance in the drama. I really think comedy is Rain's strenghts when he acts. While neither of the main male leads are strong as actors, they were fine enough for me to continue watching. Uee and Son Na Eun's characters didn't have much impact on the drama but I thought they did alright. Na Eun has improved a lot from her previous roles. I liked the supporting cast who played the ghosts and their emotions were very much believable to me.
OST:
It was alright. Not many memorable tracks for me from this drama.
OVERALL:
I recommend to watch this drama without much expectation because the comedy is really well done. While the plot itself makes no sense most of the times, it was still a light-hearted drama to watch in one's free time. It had the potential to be much better but alas it missed its marks in many areas. I don't regret watching this and did enjoy some moments from even the worst episodes.
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To be honest, this was simply another melodrama. But, in some aspects it was very different from what usually takes place in such movies. The blind girl was pretty self sufficient in it and I liked that a lot. She was neither a pushover nor dumb and the actress acted pretty well in it. I understand that playing blind characters is difficult and majority of the times, it seems fake while acting. But she did a good job of it. And the hero is the cliched tortured soul with a dark past and a dangerous life. I really don't know much about So Ji Sub but his acting was good in it. But I'd still go with the lead actress because her role was far more challenging than his.
It was pretty good when it started but it kind of fell apart about one third into the film. I was simply not interested in the boxing part nor the missions given to the hero. I also expected a few light moments but there weren't any. As I said, this is just not my genre. I cannot stay serious for too long while watching a film and a few random romantic parts don't help all that much since it is difficult to please me with just romance.
In spite of the flaws in the film, the best part of it was the cinematography. The effects used in editing were great. Mostly, it was the different kinds of lighting which were used so appropriately according to each scene that kept me hooked. Also, the outdoor locations were simply fabulous. A couple of places made me want to be there with them! I also liked the background score because it blended well with the situations.
The ending was very corny for my taste. The last 20 minutes could have been omitted and that would have been so much better. But thank goodness, it didn't end badly. The guy and the girl did love each other truly and I got that point. So far, this is the best Korean movie I have watched with pinches of originality with an attepmt to surpass the usual cliches. It is still worth a watch and a good way to spend time if you're in search for a romantic movie with a lot of sentiments.
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Let's get to the story. The original Full House too much focus on house chores and waiting. The male and female lead wait for each other literally every episode. While this follows pretty much the same fact, it feels less repetitive than the original. Plus there are moments added in the story which not only make it fresh but also much like the Korean version. The story is cliche and the classic will-they-wont-they doesn't become stale in here.
Reasons to like this drama are the hot leads, excellent camera work and the episodes having being shot in both Thailand and South Korea. I think while Rain had his own charm, Mike is definitely good to look at. The cast is lovely and they all fit their roles well.
I think this drama is a must-watch irrespective of the fact whether you've seen the original drama or not. It is light-hearted and good old fun with a decent rewatch value.
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The thing is, I expected to love it as much as I love Jo In Sung but... it wasn't LOVE love that I felt for this drama. I loved it but I wish I loved it more. There were a few issues with the characters and the storyline at times. Some parts were dragged on while others felt too easily handled. It's hard to explain the issues without spoiling it so I won't go into the details.
For me the weakest part of the drama was its execution of psychological problem of the main heroine. She is broken is what we understand but her struggle seems poorly handled after half the drama was done. They should have devoted equal amounts of time for the male and female leads instead of focusing entirely on the male. However, since Gong Hyo Jin played her character well I cannot complain any further. Guess who else shined in this drama? None other than D.O.!! I love Exo and I was thrilled to see him as a cute fan of Jo In Sung but after a few episodes- just wow. He was so important to the entire story!
The relationships between all the characters are handled well in the drama. I loved them all staying as roomies and what happens while they inhabit the same place. The sunbae, the two brothers, the guy pining for a young girl, the family relations- were all wonderful to watch plus the cast did justice to their roles.
The OST of the drama is a must-listen. The songs are so wonderful to listen to. I highly recommend listening to the tracks by Davichi and Chen even if you want to pass up this drama. In the recent times it is the most memorable soundtrack so far.
When it comes to rewatching, I believe this drama is fine. Not the best for a rewatch but maybe a few years down the line I won't mind watching it again. This drama is recommend for fans of psychological dramas.
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This movie had a variation of emotions that really consumed me wholly. It had the perfect plot, perfect actors and the story is absolutely flawless from the beginning to end. It is depicted in a way that can leave the best of the people in tears because it is so touching. It hits you right at the spot. I am a person that hardly ever cries while watching a movie or drama, but this movie had places which strongly brought tears to my eyes. I generally get touched by movies about little kids because their innocence and outlook of this world is so sweet.
Even in this film, the little girl is cute and so harmless. It makes you want to hug her tightly when she is sad or play with her when she is in a good mood. Her loss of both parents- one dying, and the other abandoning here is so sad that you can actually feel it even though the girl hardly shows it. But when she is taken in by her father's grandson she becomes very attached to him- just like a real parent. Their relationship was portrayed very naturally. I also liked the main guy because he was so selfless for this little girl. He is ready to sacrifice everything for her. She is an easy child because most of the times she is quiet and obedient. But he understands that she feels deeply and in fact, tries to hide her pain and loneliness most of the times. Even he takes time to understand what she is feeling because he is not used to being a parent.
This movie is basically about learning to love unconditionally and at the same time- maturing. It also showcases the complex relationship of a parent and child wonderfully. It shows that while parenting can be rainbows and sunshine, it can also be equally difficult. But really, I believe in reality that the love of a parent is love in its purest form and this movie kind of felt the same to me. It mostly depicts the purity of such love and the equal gentleness that a child has. It also shows how parents cater to the need of their children and do everything possible for them.
The direction, writing, editing, sound and cinematography were all brilliant. I was happy with everything in this film. And I really loved that little girl. I was worried that she wouldn't be able to act, but she won me over right from the first scene itself.
I would really, really ask everyone to give this movie a chance and appreciate it because it is not often we get movies like these. It is not at all depressing, but it touches you very deeply. Its rewatch value and everything else is a perfect 10.
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To start with, this drama sounds either amazing or dull. I was sucked in by it immediately after I read the synopsis and saw the promotional pictures. However, when I started watching it, I kind of got bored after the second episode itself and put it aside for some time. Now I am glad I came back to watching it because it was so awesome!
This is not a light drama. It requires a deep level of understanding to appreciate it or you have to be a hardcore romantic. Since I am not that much of a romantic, I had to put in effort to understand it. But once I got the hang of it, it just flowed smoothly. There is so much more to the show than just its romance. To put into words- this show has probably one of the best romances I have ever seen. The lead pair- Jun and Ha Na have an incredibly strong romance throughout the show. Plus, Jang Geun Seok being one of my favorite actors, it was a treat to watch him in it. He looked so different in 70s look and I think that it suited him well. Im Yoon Ah also looked very pretty in the 70s part. Their chemistry was probably better in that era than the present one. But since it had fewer scenes, I'd choose the present day one.
This show is mostly about love. The biggest issue raised in this show regarding love is- how far are you willing to go for your love? Is true love really worth fighting for, or not? Also, one of the biggest contrasts between the relationships of the parents and their children is the level of selfishness or selflessness. It was not a question of who loved for a longer time- it was about whose love was greater. Definitely, it was the children's. I really loved how Jun and Ha Na put their parents' happiness over everything else. And I simply hated the character of In Ha. He was one of the most selfish ones in this drama. I was only happy when he did that one thing for his son. But I would say even that wouldn't count for much if you consider the way he left his child abandoned. However, Yoon Hee is the perfect mother- kind, caring and selfless. I really don't think In Ha deserved her at all. But I didn't like how she seemed like a pushover whenever In Ha's ex-wife bullied her. I failed to comprehend why she couldn't stand up for herself.
Out of all the characters- Jun's was the best. He had the best traits of all. He has real issues with his mother and father. His mother is an alcoholic who has always been trouble for him and everyone around her. He has to put up with her constantly embarrassing and frustrating situations that she creates. If I met that lady on the street, I would probably strangle her. Not just that, she is selfish to the core and there is no good quality in her. Other than that, since Jun was abandoned by In Ha at a young age he really doesn't believe in love or family, because those never gave him happiness. He is a complete player in the beginning until he meets Ha Na. He comes off as arrogant and insensitive. At first, he judges her based on her looks and keeps harassing her. However, she is not the one to back down. She is very stubborn and succeeds in breaking the wall he has built around himself. He grows to love her simple ways and falls for her. She transforms him from a person who never said 'Sorry', to someone who would do anything for her. She also gets attracted to his bad boy ways and together they begin their relationship.
One of the biggest issues I had with Ha Na's character was that she hardly ever changes. I am not saying being simple and nice is bad, but really being that naive till the end was sort of unbelievable. I also didn't like the fact that she tries too hard to be noble and sacrificial even if that is not in her nature. Also, she is the one with the upper hand in their relationship. Everything goes according to what she says. When she wants to be with Jun- he stays and when she wants to break up, they break up. Even though I was worried that Yoon Ah wouldn't be able to pull the emotional scenes, she did those very well. Her expressions seemed bland and lacking in the beginning but she improved as the episodes progressed. Geun Seok is of course- a fantastic actor so I had no doubts at his potential. Though his hairstyle was a disaster in the beginning, they thankfully changed it a bit after the 11th or 12th episode. Of course, he looked very handsome. I really liked his personality in this. The tough guy exterior suits him very well.
And... I really loved the relationship of Ha Na and Jun. The show is called 'Love Rain' and the love in this is simply great. I give an A+ for the romantic and emotional scenes. Some of them were quite moving. Although, I got a bit tired of them during the last few episodes, it doesn't affect my love for them in any way.
As for the flaws in the show- there are plenty. There were problems with the sub-plots, characterizations, execution and ending. However, it still turns out to be one of the best dramas I have seen because the "good" parts are simply mind blowing. The cinematography was the best out of all shows that I have seen till date. It simply takes your breath away in almost all the episodes. The direction and editing were both brilliant. The screenplay is lazy and slow, but again- amazing direction and a great cast make a terrible show into the very best.
There were times that I wanted to stop watching it or skip it altogether. But once I got so invested in it, it was impossible for me to back out. I just had to get through it and finish it, so I did. The show has so many downsides to it, but those don't really come to my mind because the best parts made such a good impact on me.
As for rewatching- since Ha Na and Jun are among my favorite couples so, I will definitely watch their parts again.
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To start with, the story is funny. And it awfully reminded of Full House at least fifty times while watching the drama till the end. It might have been some kind of a trend around 2004-05 to make dramas under similar formats. It made me laugh quite a bit in places, but the outcome of the story was obvious from the first episode itself. So this isn't a unique story at all. It is overly cliche and predictable to the very core.
However, the characters are colorful and engrossing. I was kept entertained by Ju Yoo Rin. The actress is pretty good. The only thing that bugged me was lack of her hairdos. That side ponytail and bun were both terrible. The producers should have invested more on the hairstylist for the main actress. Instead, I really liked the hairdos of Se Hyun better. She was pretty plus well dressed.
The second thing that kept my eyes thoroughly glued to the screen was Lee Dong Wook. He's such a pleasure to look at. He is so handsome and cute that I couldn't stop gushing all through till the end. At the beginning, his expressions were lacking but I guess that is something to do with his character because he plays an unemotional and depressed man. Towards the end, he acted really well. He showcased the emotions well. Also, his sense of dressing and hairstyle both reminded of Lee Min Ho's in Personal Taste. So I see that this show set some trends in the world of dramas because of its popularity. Anyway, Seol Gong Chan's character was cute and I was relieved that they didn't turn him into a jerk. He was rude but he was equally loving. Plus, Dong Wook's extraordinary good looks put the whole show to an advantage.
Apart from that, the sub plots were alright and this is probably the first show in which I despised the second lead. Seo Jung Woo's character was underdeveloped throughout. He went too soon from a bad boy to a good boy then bad again and after that there was no room for character growth. I am glad he didn't stand a chance because otherwise in almost all dramas I wish for the heroine to end up with the second guy. He was the most annoying thing on the show after the stupid middle-aged couple's love story.
This show has very sweet romance. It wasn't overdone and those parts were written well. I might even rewatch certain scenes. The only issue with me is that it took the serious track too soon (by ep 4) and there wasn't much of a plot to begin with. Towards the middle, the show lost some of its humor and simplicity. But they picked up later and it was still a wreck. The writing of the show was poor and pace was inconsistent. It could have been much better if the other plot devices had been put to use properly. Too much attention was focused on irrelevant things and all the potential plotlines were ignored.
However, it still serves to be an entertaining watch because of a good starcast and mostly- Lee Dong Wook. Without him the show would have sucked much more. But he saves it along with Lee Da Hae's great performances. And the music was just okay. I have heard much better before. Also- some of the background tunes were sounding eerily similar to Full House. Sigh. The comparisons and similarities just won't stop.
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Romcom of the year!
I was sad when this drama kept getting pushed back on its premiere and now I am sad that it's over. While airing, this drama has managed to put a smile on my face every week. This is a perfect combination of comedy, romance and old -school kdrama tropes. It was fun to remember the elements that me love kdramas and to have them replayed on a more lowkey level for me a more 'aware' audience (e.g. now I hate plots where the heroine is shamed for her poor status or that of evil Mother-in-laws - which this drama parodies on so many levels).PLOT:
It's a typical CEO falls for poor girl plot only that no one is sitting around crying about their problems. Kang Tae Moo and Shin Ha Ri were very refreshing together and the process of them falling for each other was a lot of fun as well. I like that there are no major conflicts in the plot and for the most part everything was set up and wrapped up neatly. However the secret scene stealers here are the secondary couple. I loved their chemistry and how they fell for each other in the most cringey way only to confess to each other almost at the same time. I swear they could have had their own drama and I would have still watched it.
CHARACTERS:
The characters in this drama are delightful for most part. I think I enjoyed everyone's role except Min Woo and the chaebol girl who spoke English all the time (never seen a more pointless character before). The relationships between Tae Moo and his grandfather and Ha Ri and her family were precious. They always argue but I could see everyone being genuinely concerned for each other. I also loved the friendship between Ha Ri and her best friend and Tae Moo and his secretary/cousin(?). It was super wholesome and loved the parallels between the main characters! For most part there were not many annoying people in this drama.
ACTING:
I've been a fan of Ahn Hyo Seob and while he isn't the best actor, I think he did fine here and did make me laugh a lot. His acting was eerily reminiscent of Park Seo Joon's from Secretary Kim. I'll admit I thoroughly disliked Sejung as an actress in her past drama but she was more than tolerable here. In fact she matched her character and was pretty cute overall. I liked most of the cast and didn't have any issues with the mediocre acting because I watched this to have a good time and not to critique them.
OST:
I cannot recall more than 1-2 tracks from the OST but they were more than fine. This was not the drama's strongest department.
OVERALL:
This a light, fluffy romcom that did a lot of things right by keeping it a short and enjoyable ride. The laughs were plenty and this drama was a fun escape from reality while it aired. I think the ending was still a bit weak but it was much better than loads of nonsense endings I've seen in kdramas in the past. I highly recommend this drama.
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One of the best slow burn and slice of life kdramas in recent years
This drama had been on my radar ever since they started releasing promos and teasers and I end up picking it up while it was airing. To be honest, I wasn't completely sold on the drama initially. It seemed funny but I was unable to relate to the characters a lot. This was the case till I found myself totally obsessed with it after ep 5. This drama was very light in tone for most part and while not a perfect one, for me the viewing experience was a memorable one.PLOT:
It's about a group of friends with the main couple being a bickering will-they-won't-they one. It comes with a twist because they have history together and the drama's narrative poses questions about their true feelings, intentions and scenarios. For me it was enjoyable watching the leads rediscover their feelings, or accepting the fact that the feelings never left. While few things in their history as a couple were off they did manage to mature and be better versions of themselves with each other. I really liked the direction in which we see same things from two different perspective. It's like how memories in real life are. The brain records the dominant feelings in the situation or how we were feeling but many a times we unconsciously discount the struggles other might be going through at the same time. There were some interesting aspects to Yeon Su and Woong's relationships.
I really think the strength of the drama lies in its main characters and the interactions they all have with each other. The side characters are equally strong and while they are flawed, they all had a struggle I could relate with. Being a kdrama, it doesn't shy from undertones of melodrama but thankfully nothing majorly tragic ever happens. I swear I would have rated this drama much less if that were the case.
CAST:
It's a wonderful cast with strong performances from almost everyone. Choi Woo Sik and Kim Dami made really good efforts to seem natural and comfortable with each other which I really appreciated. There were also some new faces for me who made a good impression on me and I'll be excited to check their future works also.
OST:
The OST fits the mood of the drama. No need to say that BTS V's single is already massively popular. It was cool of him to lend his voice for his Wooga squad friend after 2020's Itaewon Class. We love it.
OVERALL:
I would categorize this drama as more of a slow burn with elements of comedy, friendship and slice of life. While it has its flaws and I had minor issues with its writing in a few places, it still remains to be a strong drama that is quite worth a watch. I think anyone can enjoy it and the ending is quite fitting as well. It left me wanting S2 and I'd be up for it if they ever made a sequel to this.
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What sets this drama apart is that everyone is likable. There are several side characters that make an impact along with the main characters. The cast had great chemistry and they seemed to gel really well. For me this drama was largely enjoyable due to the references to the current pop culture of Korea. The references to variety shows, idols and the cameos- OMG! It had me squealing out loud with laughter.
There were times this drama was a typical Kdrama. We have a love square here (like always) but for me it was a bit difficult to guess who would end up with who. Wish they had focused lesser on that and had continued the same format it had for the first 7 or so episodes. After that the drama became a bit repetitive at times.
It felt like the writer had no idea what to do with the story later on as the drama is so short. 12 episodes is way too less for me and I felt like so much more could have been explored had it been 16 or 18 episodes. It's kind of unfair, if you ask me.
Anyway, the cast is lovely and IU really surprised me with her acting. She was terrible in the beginning but she grew on me as the story progressed. Her character has the best growth out of all. Plus I loved Kim Soo Hyun in this. I normally don't like him (yeah, throw stones at me) but here he was hilarious. Gong Hyo Jin & Cha Tae Hyun were wonderful as well. But really- Kim Soo Hyun is the one who entertained me MOST here. Also the cameos like TaeTiSeo, JYP, Hani, Dara, etc. was a true treat to someone who loves kpop.
I like the OST as well and I would recommend the song 'And One' by Baek Ji Young for a listen.
Wish there would be a Season 2 and I can probably be satisfied for real. Anyway, I am glad I watched this drama.
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Although the plot is guillable, the cast isn't. If it hadn't been a good cast I would have given up on this show in the first episode itself. It was funny right from the funny episode so I decided to continue it.
I really, really liked it. All the characters grew on me slowly and now it is definitely one of my favorite dramas. The only character I didn't like was Go Mi Nam. I wasn't a fan of hers. I get that she was about to be a nun and all, but that doesn't mean she has to be all that clueless about things. Also, I didn't like the way she was with the other nicer guys who genuinely loved her compared to Tae Kyung. He was overly domineering, harassing and downright offensive. I didn't like the fact that the girl was a total pushover. She seemed to lack self-respect and pride but she had plenty of selfishness. I didn't buy her angel-like innocent side.
Jeremy was probably the best character by the end of the show. He had more sides and depth to him than others had. He was kind, loving, caring and equally funny and entertaining. I would have probably chosen him over the other two. Shin Woo was alright but he had no personality other than his overly cheesy romantic side. It just didn't touch me. And I did like Tae Kyung- he did some pretty great things for Go Min Nam/Nyu but I think had it been Jeremy or Shin Woo, they would have probably done the same for her. So I kind of question this "one and only one" when it comes to his case.
The writing of the show is just alright. It lacked originality. All the sub-plots and ideas have been overly used. The direction of the show was also pretty alright. So because of a lack of original story line, it is not going to be the best drama I have seen so for.
It did get pretty lackluster in the last few episodes, but it was still a better show than so many others I have been recently watching.
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This is a fairly entertaining show. I understand why it got so popular. The humor is very good and there are light moments in almost all the episodes. I took forever to make peace with Dokko Jin but it happened. He was pretty funny, actually! His jokes were quite good especially the 'Ding Dong' parts. Although the actor who played him has very mediocre looks, he is a good actor. The expressions are clearly visible on his face and it is not too difficult to understand what he is feeling. In comparison, Gong Hyo Jin's acting was terrible. Plus, her character was excessively dull so I didn't like her at all. Her chemistry with Dokko Jin was non-existent and I just had to skip a lot of their scenes after episode 9 or 10. This was one of the worst pairings I have ever seen.
Apart from this, since it is a comedy drama I am not going to talk about the characterizations and writing part at all. Both were kind of alright. There isn't anything more to say in that area.
My favorite characters were Yoon Pil Joo and Kang Se Ri. They both looked adorable together and all their scenes were my favorites. I kind of wished that either they should have been the main couple or there should be a similar drama with them in it. That would be so great. I think their story had great potential and their chemistry was great. I have a thing for love stories between bad girls and good boys. Pil Joo was an ideal man. I would love to have a guy like him. And the fact that him and Kang Se Ri were polar opposites was very funny. I really love Yoo In Na. She's absolutely fabulous and her sense of fashion was perfect in this drama. She makes me envious every time that she manages to look so pretty.
Anyway, overall an enjoyable show to watch but the rewatch value is really mediocre.
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Better than so many teen dramas and not as shallow as it sounds
True Beauty has been a popular webtoon for a few years now. I've always put it off, thinking I would pick it up someday but I ended up watching the drama before. I read a few chapters of the webtoon only and discontinued after being warned that the drama wasn't really following the original plot closely. It figures since the original is a love triangle and this is just a high school drama. I wouldn't call it the best drama ever, but hey- it's fun and has some good messages.STORY/PLOT:
Its idea is a lot like like older animes/mangas- Kare Kano or Switch Girl. This premise is hilarious but unbelievable. From the beginning we pity Ju Kyung for being labelled as 'ugly' and getting bullied and teased to no end. I am not sure how realistic it is, because I've never seen anything like this in real life. I liked Ju Kyung getting her confidence when she put on makeup but ultimately that was a facade. It brought her temporary relief and denial, but she had to accept what or how she really was physically. I believe the process of her becoming more confident should have been focused on more than they liked to talk about it in the drama. However I do love the message of people will love you for you - those who love you for your looks aren't real people. Also 'True Beauty' is a fitting title because throughout we see the stark contrast between the 'ugly' Ju Kyung and the 'pretty' bullies, which I really liked.
ROMANCE & LOVE TRIANGLE:
I must say, I was disappointed with how Seo Jun was written. He acted and did all the things the ML would, but we were being cheated. Su Ho was a great character but let's be real- he was the ML just because it is a Korean drama. Throwback to Western stories/series and only characters like Seo Jun ever win in the end. Well, we all knew it deep down, didn't we? I would say the romance didn't matter much to me. It was cute but more cliche than anything I've seen in a while. It had all the standard tropes of a Kdrama thrown in till the end. *eye roll at hospital visits 3000 times*
FRIENDSHIP:
Meh. It was super cute until cliches kicked in and it sort of cheapened the story for me. However the people who remained loyal, stayed so even after Ju Kyung's 'reveal'.
ACTING:
Moon Ga Young is a pretty decent actress. I was so skeptical of her playing a school girl but she did her job wonderfully. Rest of the cast is pretty decent too but I'm bored of Cha Eun Woo playing the pretty but reserved boy again and again.
OST:
Forgettable but still nice. The SML actor is talented at singing.
OVERALL:
I think it was such a nice high school drama. I miss that Korea doesn't make much of these but when they do, they are usually quite good. I'd say this drama is enjoyable if one doesn't get into the shipping stuff. That takes away from the comedy and heartwarming moments shared between many of its characters. I wish this drama hadn't gotten boring because it was amazing till ep 6-7 and from then on it had its high and low moments but never stayed high. The episodes could have been shorter tbh. But I want to ask those who didn't have faith the drama would be good because the webtoon "didn't have a plot" would be surprised that this is actually decent.
I recommend watching this.
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PLOT:
I feel like the plot itself was just the cohabitation and how two people meet and fall in love. The Male Lead is a typical icy yet sweet guy who appears cold on the surface but is a puppy when in love. The Female Lead is bubbly, outgoing and lacking in common sense. Both seem opposites but the ML falls for her way earlier on than she does and does a lot of sweet things for her. Rest of the drama was about how they get close. Plus, thankfully there weren't any villains or clingy second leads. The heroine's male friend was annoying but he gets over her and tries to moves on with another girl but sadly never grows as a character. What is sad was how the overall premise was alright / passable, but the execution didn't quite hit the mark when it came to keeping me engaged. The secondary characters are all uninteresting and the romance between the leads is awkward as heck once they get to the dating stage. The parents were intolerable and new characters are introduced later on for no reason.
ROMANCE:
Meh. It was sweet till the leads actually confessed to each other. After that they spend all their time together to the point where it seems like they have no interests outside each other. Their relationship lacked maturity in communication and they are always dying to be together and their skinship wasn't fun either. There are no real conflicts they face and neither do they seem to be in a healthy relationship. It was boring because there was all fluff and no real talk between the two.
ACTING:
I didn't like Fair Xing but it seemed like she has potential. Her hairstyle and clothes were horrible and playing a ditzy college girl wasn't the best role for her. The main actor is cute and seems to have potential as this is his debut drama. None of the other actors made an impression on me apart from the ones whom I have seen in other works.
REWATCH VALUE:
No, thanks. I won't take this on again. It would be very challenging as skipping scenes is what got me to the end.
OVERALL:
If you like two people being in love, who are childish and are a pair that never get anywhere but are just CUTE - then this is the drama for you. I wish the characters of the main leads were written well because that is literally who the plot revolves around. In no way did I envy their relationship as I do with romance dramas because it never gave me healthy or fun vibes. Everything was cute in a boring way.
Time to move on to the next drama.
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The characters are real and more developed this time around but the screen time wasn't divided that well. A lot of importance could have been given to the ones other than those in the poster but it didn't happen. Also, the role of the Queen seemed a bit too central for my taste. I am also disappointed at the lack of romance because the anime has some and even the first movie had some hints.
I love the cast though. Hope they all become big stars because I see a lot of potential in them. I have to say- the main three actors/characters are crazy good-looking. Especially the girl who plays Chihaya really hard carried this entire film. She makes the often-cold/clueless heroine seem more real and raw. The actor playing Mashima is also likable and I have liked him in dramas before. He doesn't disappoint here either.
Watch this film if you've seen the first because only then it will feel sort of complete. The ending was alright for me since the manga is still ongoing and we will not know what's gonna happen in it. It also left some room for a third film and also ended well enough to have another one.
I felt a little let down with this film but there might be people who might love it more than the first. Watch it to judge it for yourself. I recommend the anime, manga and movies to all.
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