allyson
San Antonio, TX
This is seriously not my style of drama. The setting, the synopsis, the writing. There is nothing about this drama that screams Allyson. However, I really did enjoy this one a lot. That’s not to say it didn’t have its flaws, cause it definitely did. But even with those flaws, I don’t regret spending time with these characters.
Because that’s the best thing about this drama, the characters. They are so vivid and bright and it’s really just fun to watch them fumble their way through these complicated situations and try and take care of the people around them. The romances were sweet, of a little lacking pda from anyone but the main couple. But I defy you to watch this show and not fall in love with at least one character.
As to the story, it was a mess. There were a lot of abandoned plot points, and a lot of plot points that dragged on way, way too long. And a lot of things were not brought to a satisfying resolution. But I’m sure you’ve seen the comments! Luckily, I did too. I think going into it, knowing that the ending is going to be rushed and a little off-kilter really did help mitigate my expectations. Going in prepared for the flaws makes it a little easier to ignore them, I think.
The actors, for me, did an amazing job in their roles. After I Am Not A Robot, I knew I could expect good things from Chae Soo Bin, and she really didn’t disappoint. Similarly, I fell for Lee Je Hoon’s character pretty hard! And the two security guards were just beyond adorable. Really, everyone just did a great job here.
All in all, I think this drama is worth a shot, if you are looking for something to just enjoy and not put much thought or effort into. If you’re looking for phenomenal story writing, you’re in the wrong place.
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There are a couple things I want to get out of the way before I start the actual review of the drama.
First, man am I super susceptible to advertising. This isn’t really a new discovery, as back when the fans tried to save chuck by begging Subway for product placement, I learned real quick that just seeing someone eat a subway sandwich was enough for me to go out and buy one. So, if you’ve ever wondered if product placement ever actually works on people, this jerk right here will fall for it! And man, there was a lot of product placement in this drama, so be ready.
Second, I think this drama should come with a warning label for your ovaries. My biological clock appreciated the heck out of watching So Ji Sub lovingly play with those kids.
Ok, so now that that is out of the way, on to reviewing the drama. There seems to be a pretty mixed bag of opinions in the comment section, and honestly, I can’t find fault with either side. Terrius had a lot of issues that kept it from being perfect, but I can also see how it would be easy for someone to go in expecting a comedy and not looking for plot holes to thoroughly enjoy it.
Cause first and foremost, this is a comedy drama, and the spy and action stuff is kind of thrown in as an afterthought. There are a lot of plot holes and a good dose of bad writing, but for the most part, the characters genuinely are easy to love and root for. The spy stuff was ridiculous and mostly unbelievable, and the twists were obvious from very early on.
So, hopefully I’ve cleared things up for people who are going to go into this for the spy angle. Let’s talk about the romance angle. A lot of people have said there isn’t any romance, and that is true. You don’t get a traditional romance, you don’t get any pda at all. But that’s not to say it’s devoid of romance. It is made pretty clear that they care a lot for each other. It’s just never expressly said or physically shown.
Another disappointment is So Ji Sub’s character. It’s just incredibly one note and flat. I have been really impressed with him in other dramas prior to this one, but here it felt like he never connected with the character, and so I never connected with the character. I’m not sure where the blame lies, if it is a writing problem, or an acting problem, but it definitely detracted from the drama.
Still with me? Cause that’s a lot of negative, and there really is some bright gems in this story that make it worth watching.
First, the extended cast is just hilarious. It wasn’t hard not to fall for all of the side characters. The kids were adorable, the KIS squad was hilarious and even the NIS team had quite a bit of cuteness in the form of Ra Do Woo.
Second, it’s So Ji Sub and twins. What’s not to love there?
Third, it was just flat out funny! Not all of the time, but enough that it kept the story moving at a fast pace and helped disguise some of the little plot holes that were cropping up everywhere.
All in all, this isn’t the worst drama I’ve ever watched, but it’s also far from the best. If you are good at suspending disbelief and don’t need your plots to make a lot of sense, check this out! If not, there are certainly better written/acted dramas out there.
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It's been so long since I have written a review, I barely know where to begin! This show has quite a mixed bag of ratings. It seems as if people either loved it or really hated it. I definitely think this isn't a drama for everyone, but you might be surprised at how much you end up liking it. Buckle up, I think this is going to be a long ride. I have a lot of feelings :p
Things you have to love in order to give this drama a chance:
Long, tense silences full of longing gazes.
Lack of clear motivations for bad guys.
Very little character growth.
A lot of crying. And I mean A LOT.
That all sounds pretty critical, huh? But it's really not! I enjoyed this drama a lot, but that doesn't absolve it from its drama sins. I think it's important to be forewarned so that your expectations aren't shattered.
This story is sad. But, unless you just went in completely blind to the synopsis, I don't think that would be a surprise to anyone. This is some heavy stuff right here, so of course it is going to be sad. However, there are dramas that deal with similarly sad, heartbreaking stuff, and they manage to find a good balance between melodrama and levity. And while there are quite a few cute, happy moments in Come and Hug Me, the majority of it was just silent longing.
The real problem with this regards depth and character growth. There just really isn't any. Well, one or two characters might have developed and grown throughout the show, but for the most part, everyone is pretty stagnant. This really hurt the drama, because it meant that it was harder to connect with the characters.
But it's not just the heroes and their lack of character development that makes it hard to connect with them. The villains have their fair share of stagnancy, in terms of motivation. There are so many characters doing bad things without really explaining to us why they were doing them. For example, the reporter. Why on earth was she so hell bent on destroying lives? And the lady toward the second half of the show, why the heck was she so hell bent on watching the world burn?
Alright, alright. That is a whole lot of negative for a show I legitimately enjoyed. The acting in this drama was just absolutely top notch. Just about everyone really blew me away with how much they were putting into their roles. You know how sometimes when you watch a drama and you can see the script in your head, cause the actors are just following directions, not really connecting. This was so not the case with CAHM. I never once was pulled out from the drama by thinking about the script.
The music was really good, too! It really fit the tone of the drama really well. This drama reminded me a lot of Missing You, so if you like that drama, you might want to give this one a try. And there is a scene, of which I am not going to mention specifically here that felt like it was pulled from I Hear Your Voice.
The last 10 or so episodes is what really made this drama great. Earlier episodes were just fraught with so much guilt and anxiety. And the last 10 episodes are, as well. However, you have so much more cuteness and levity at this point that the drama was sorely lacking.
All in all, I really did like this drama. It kept me interested throughout, and I am really glad that I gave it a shot in spite of some of the comments I read about it. Seriously, if you like sad dramas with lots of crying and some murdering, this is the drama for you!
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I don't really do dramas where lead characters find out they're terminally ill. That just sounds like a recipe for heartbreak, and I try to avoid that when at all possible. In fact, I think the only other drama that I have intentionally watched with a similar story line would be Scent of a Woman, and that drama handled the sad material way better than this drama did.
Sa Rang, the daughter of the terminally ill woman in this drama was absolutely freaking amazing. In fact, I'd hazard to say that she is one of the best child actors that I have ever seen. Her character was so strong and yet impossibly adorable. If I could guarantee that I could have a kid like her, I might consider procreating. Both of the main leads in this drama started out incredibly annoying, Mi Rae moreso than Yeol. They were both childish and insufferable at times, and it took quite a few episodes for either of them to grow on you. But once you get a couple of episodes in and Mi Rae stops being so overbearing, they both really start to grow and shine.
However, no matter how much Mi Rae grows on you, she is still an odd combination of awful mother and really good mother. I mean, it's obvious that Sa Rang is loved, and maybe this is a cultural difference, but they just let her wander wherever she wants to go. She is ten years old and is left to her own devices for a vast majority of the time.
Story line wise, this show dragged a lot. I think it could have seriously benefited from a 10 or 12 episode length rather than 16 episodes. They would set up these really great plot points, and then utterly destroy them by the end of the episode. And all of the back and forth was just infuriating. Make up your mind already, guys!
Did you ever watch that episode of Friends, the one where Phoebe finds out that Monica and Chandler are dating? She wants to get back at them for not telling her and the other sooner, so she and Rachel devise a plan to prank them. As the episode goes along, each party finds out what the other is planning, and it leads to the hilarious "They don't know we know they know we know." It was hilarious for a 20 minute episode, all of the crazy shenanigans. Now, take that same idea, throw in some cancer and instead of 20 minutes, turn it into a 4 episode arc and you have the later episodes of this show. It got beyond tedious.
Another thing that bugged me about this show was the "villain", Han Yeol's boss. He was evil purely for the sake of being evil. And I'm exaggerating with the use of evil there. He was a bad guy, and an absolute jerk, though as villains go he is probably fairly tame. His characterization made no sense, his hatred of Yeol is never satisfactorily explained. It's like the writers knew they wanted to give us an obstacle, but didn't really want to put effort into that character. I like my villains to be a little more nuanced, to give us a little more of a reason for their sudden redemption.
And while all of those feel like legitimate reasons to maybe take a pass on this show, I still think that it is worth the effort! The relationship between Mi Rae, Yeol and Sa Rang, while clunky at times, was an absolute delight to watch. Yeol's smile just absolutely melted your heart, and once you start this drama, you find yourself hard pressed to turn it off and not find out what happens with Mi Rae in the end.
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I don't know what it says about me that I am always shocked by the actual genres of dramas once I start them. You'd think after being surprised enough times that I would do some more research, or just look at the genres listed on here. But no, I just look at a poster and read a description and if it tickles my fancy, I'm in. That's what happened with this drama. I saw the placeholder they had up on Dramafever, the one with Soon Jung in the middle and Kang Ho and Joon Hee on opposite sides pulling each other's hair. Then I read the description, and thought man, this is going to be absolutely hilarious.
I don't want to say I was wrong, because there are quite a few legitimately hilarious moments in each episode, and it does do a fairly good job of balancing levity with melodrama. But man, this drama made me cry several times. And not the dainty, one shining tear cry. The ugly kind of cry that makes your boyfriend look at you like you have finally gone insane, just as he had been expecting all these years.
So yeah, this drama knows how to hit you right where it hurts. Which sucks if you hate sad things, but is also kind of amazing because of how well the actors pulled off this story line. I mean, Dong Wook was just this character you couldn't help but fall in love with the second you saw him. He was so upbeat and cheerful and was willing to do anything to make Soon Jung smile. On the opposite end of the spectrum, you have Kang Min Ho, a revenge-fueled egotist who would stop at nothing to take down his uncle's company, even by destroying countless people's lives. They were as opposite as can be, but shared a fate that would forever tie them together.
Then you have Joon Hee, the second male lead of the drama. I don't want to say too much about his character, but Yoon Hyun Min was just perfect for this role. I mean, just wow. Soon Jung was probably the weakest aspect of this show for me. While I did actually like her, I feel like at times she was a little plain Jane of a character. I'd have liked at least half as much character growth for her character as we saw for the male leads. Cause boy did their characters grow and change. Jung Kyung Ho's Kang Min Ho has to be one of my favorite male characters that I've seen in a long time. After his transplant, the change in him was instantaneous. It was so adorable watching him struggle with his new feelings and emotions, and even more adorable watching him try to woo Soon Jung.
My only complaint about this drama, and what kept it from a 10 in my book, is just how much they focused on the company. It got a little boring after a while, and extremely predictable. One side was going to cause an insane problem, and whoever the "good guys" were of the episode was going to find a way to fix the problem. Lather, rinse, repeat.
Overall, this drama was just exceptional, and the romance in it was just so much fun to watch. All of the side characters really did bring so much to the show, and the Wendy/Tinkerbell side story was entertaining. If you are a fan of romance and melodrama, this show should not be missed!
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I went into this drama with the expectation of dropping it in the first five minutes. I kept seeing it pop up on Dramafever, and I kept looking at it, wanting to start it but having this gut feeling that I wasn't going to like it at all. So I finally decided to start it, just so that I could drop it and get it out of my head. But man, almost from the very first minute, I was completely sucked in. And then after the first episode, I knew there was no way I could give up on these characters and their story.
Can I just say, Choi Woo Shik was absolutely made for this role. It never once felt like he was acting, it felt like he was just implicitly Ho Goo. And Ho Goo was this adorable, naive, simple guy that you couldn't help but want to hug a billion times an episode. His heart was always in the right place, and he always put other people's needs first. It was the polar opposite of most lead male characters, who start off bristly and arrogant and only change through the power of love. Ho Goo was innocent and thoughtful, and while love did change him, it only made him into a better, stronger version of something that was already pretty awesome.
Uee, however, felt really flat in her role. I honestly couldn't understand what Ho Goo saw in Do Hee. Why he was willing to do so much for someone that was only slightly better than a wooden plank. There were a few moments where you could really see some potential in her, but for the most part I just kept wishing they had picked someone else for this role. But alas, Ho Goo loved her and I was determined to see them together if it was what he wanted.
The storyline felt really fresh to me. Just when I thought I knew how people would react, what was going to happen in the storyline, someone did something that turned my assumptions on their head. Which is always a pleasant surprise in drama land! The side characters really added to the story. Ho Goo's best friend and his really ripped arms; Do Hee's "first love" and all of his hilarious baggage; Ho Goo's sister and her unrelenting crush on someone who thought she was a boy. All of them added to this perfect recipe of a drama in the most entertaining of ways.
I haven't watched many 2015 dramas, or more to the point I haven't been able to finish many of them, but I think I can easily say that Ho Goo's love is one of the best to come from the crop of dramas this year. It's endearing, and sweet, and the romance in it is adorable if you only focus on Ho Goo's side of it.
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Full Disclosure: Given the opportunity, I'd have Park Yoochun's babies in a heartbeat. I fell head over heels in love with him in Missing You, and he has created in me a fervent fan girl who will follow him down any road he chooses to take me. While I think that contributed to my rating, it is also worth noting that his Three Days barely scored a 5 from me, so I am not blind to a dramas flaws just because of my love for him. And man, did this drama have flaws.
It's probably also worth saying that I really don't like Shin Se Kyung. I honestly think she is a mediocre actress, and almost wanted to pass on this drama because of her. But like I said, I'm in it for Yoochun, no matter who he is paired with. And it's really good I didn't pass on it, because underneath all of the bluster and ridiculousness is a gem of a drama, perfect for drama fans that don't think too hard about the plot lines.
The story in this drama was just such a mess. Story points were completely dropped, a few rather important ones that we never receive closure on. Which is incredibly annoying. I can never tell if the drama is trying to give commentary on the ineptitude of the police force, or if just assumes it's viewers will forgive the absurdity of the plot and just assume the police force is doing a good job. But I sent far too many text messages while watching the drama, bemoaning the stupid plans that both the cops and the bad guy made. And what's worse than these awful, absurd plans? The party they were meant to trap usually falls for them!
You have this killer that has eluded capture for years and years. He is supposedly clever enough to keep getting away with murder, even when the police know that it is he that is doing it. And I'll admit, occasionally he will hit on a plan that is pretty inspired. But most of the time, you just can't believe that he would do such dumb things and get away with them, or fall for such dumb plans that the cops were making.
Alright, that is a lot of bellyaching about a drama that I actually, legitimately enjoyed. While it didn't cater to the intelligence of its viewers, the chemistry between Shin Se Kyung and Park Yoochun was pretty adorable. Plus, the dreaded love triangle never reared its ugly head, which is a huge plus. The cuteness between the two leads was enough for me to override all of the less stellar aspects of the drama. Though, I have never been accused of having good taste when romance is involved.
The side characters in this drama mostly added to the levity and were fun to watch. This drama solidified in me a resounding understanding that I will never, ever understand Korean Skit Comedy. I mean, seriously. Totally over my head. I wish they hadn't focused so much on it in the beginning, because none of it was funny to me at all. In fact, I think my brain just shut off every time they were at the troupe or practicing.
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I'll admit to dropping this drama during the first episode several months back, right after it finished airing. I didn't care for Han Groo's character, and to be honest, I didn't find Yeon Woo Jin that appealing. The only reason this drama was saved from my drop pile is because one of my friends picked it up and kept texting me that I needed to watch it. And as with most dramas that make it to my reviewed list, I am happy that she convinced me that this drama was worth it.
Though I have a relatively low score for this drama, it is still such a cute little story. Joo Jang Mi is a strong character with a big heart, who has a hard time saying no to the people she cares about. She has a slightly dysfunctional relationship with her parents, who have spent her whole life fighting and now don't even speak to each other. Gong Gi Tae is a stubborn jerk of a character in the beginning, who cares more about his own wants than anyone else. He also has a dysfunctional relationship with his parents, in particular his mother. At its heart, this is a drama about relationships, and how letting someone into your life can completely change your entire world.
The romance in this drama was enjoyable, even though it had the dreaded love triangle. Han Yeo Reum, the third point of this drama's triangle, was ridiculously adorable. While his character was not very well-written or fleshed out, Jin Woon did an adorable job playing him. He had this smile that could completely melt your heart. And abs that could make you weak in the knees.
The story kept moving along at a good pace throughout, and I never felt bored throughout any of it, even when it kept repeating some of the same themes and tropes. It was fun to see what new disaster the families would create for our fake couple, and even more fun to watch them realize that maybe they weren't so fake after all. When the story got heavier though is when it started to fall apart. While I genuinely came to love Jang Mi and Gi Tae, I was completely pulled out of the story when either of them would cry or yell or get upset. It was just awkward and kind of wooden to watch them do anything other than comedy.
Overall, this drama is something I could definitely recommend to anyone who loves romcoms. It was fresh enough that you didn't get bored, and cute enough that it just left you feeling great after the end. And a special shout out to Heo Jeong Min. I hated his Hoon Dong at first, but after the first few episodes, I really looked forward to his scenes. He was legitimately more and more hilarious as the story progressed.
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Honestly, I had no idea what to expect when going into this drama. No one I know had watched it, so I hadn't really heard much about it and I was unsure of whether I wanted to start it or not at first. I didn't know anyone from the cast except some minor players and the whole 1997 aspect of it was throwing me off. Despite all of this, I was desperate for a new drama so I gave it a shot. And I am exceedingly glad that I did.
Before I get into anything else about the drama, I want to dispel any hesitation you might have about the 1997 aspect. One of my friends says she refuses to watch it because it was set in the past, and another one was also hesitant because they didn't like Reply 1997. Other than some minor points, like Kim Hyung Joon using a beeper and there being an abundance of payphones and some other out of date technology, it is almost impossible to differentiate between this drama and a drama set in the present. So if that is one of the reasons that you haven't watched this drama, at least give the first episode a shot and see if it's something you can get over.
It's hard to really pinpoint just what exactly makes this drama so amazing. The actors were brilliant, and the characters were so well-written and nuanced, that it was always interesting to watch them come together to face their challenges. I think my favorite character would have to be Jung Teacher, hands down. He was a crass, boorish thug and in the beginning, you just want to punch him in the face a couple times til he gets his act together. But then this amazing thing happens, and we are treated some pretty amazing character growth along the way.
The two bumbling, maladroit buddies on Team Oh Ji Young were adorable for the most part, even if they didn't have much of an impact on the story line over all. Our male lead, Kim Hyung Joon was so many things; pathetic, conniving, hardworking, desperate, selfless, sweet, understanding, difficult. His character runs the gambit of personality traits, but in a way that doesn't seem schizophrenic in the least. Along with Jung Teacher, he does a lot of growing up an maturing along the way as well.
The women in this drama were just incredible, absolutely so. Oh Ji Young knows how to take care of herself, even if she doesn't have the best qualifications or background. She is a fighter and she doesn't put up with other people treating her or her loved one's poorly. This is probably due to the fact that she grew up surrounded by four men (who were adorable and so funny!). Hwa Jung was also a very strong female character. She fought so hard to help Hyun Joong save the company, and she had no problem letting them know when she disagreed with something they wanted to do.
And if two strong main female characters wasn't enough, we also have the President of Queen Salon, Ma Ae Ri. She was the epitome of strength and class. It's interesting, because most dramas would have done something entirely different with her character, made her into an evil villain who would stab everyone in the back so that she could win. But she was so kind, even if she didn't show it, and she loved her girls so much. I especially loved her relationship with Choon Ja, and even Choon Ja herself. She was more of a caricature than a real character, but that is what made her so great.
Character-wise, my only complaint would have to be Yoon. His character made absolutely zero sense. I never once understood him, or his motivations. His feelings for Oh Ji Young never once felt genuine, and his plans regarding Vivi were just nonsensical and contrary to what his endgame was. I was extremely disappointed that they wasted Lee Ki Woo on that role.
The story line was just flawless. It was neither extremely predictable nor too unpredictable. It managed to walk the fine line between the two with ease. I will admit that it did drag a little in the beginning, but once we get our team established and we have something root for, this drama really shines. The heart of this drama, I think, is that when people come together, there is nothing they can't achieve.
The music in this drama was really great! Though, there were songs in there that were done by the same band who did some of the songs from I Hear Your Voice, and they sounded very similar. So every time a song came on, I would have to war with myself to not stop and watch I Hear Your Voice for the 100th time.
I do want to mention, I had really expected this drama to be written by the same person who wrote King of Dramas. I was shocked when I saw that it was the same writer for Romance Town, a drama I really didn't enjoy. Thematically, the stories in MK and The King of Dramas were very similar. A boy who has wronged a girl in the past now needs her help to save himself and his dreams, while also trying to help her fulfill her own dreams. Trust issues abound, but they both pull you into their struggles and have you cheering at the TV for every win they get.
All in all, this is one of the better dramas of 2014, in my opinion. Maybe not the absolute best, but certainly in the top 10.
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I wanted so much to love this drama. I don't think I suffered from inflated expectations, even though Yoo In Na is one of my favorite actresses. This drama was just an absolute mess. The characters were mostly ridiculous. I think Yoo In Na cried in every single episode, sometimes several times an episode. Now, I don't mind a good damsel in distress every once in a while, I don't mind characters who have weaknesses. But that is all Yoo In Na's character was, weak. She was indecisive and allowed herself to be pulled in two different directions constantly. And I mean that quite literally. On more than one occasion, both boys each had a hand and was telling the other to let go. I was just hoping that she would tell them both to go take a flying leap since she wasn't a toy for them to argue over, but she never did.
That's not to say that I didn't pick sides. I was all for Goo Hae Young from the beginning. I know a lot of people love Nam Goong Min, but his character in this drama was absolutely insipid. He was a trope, and nothing more. Someone there to create friction and cause conflict, but not anyone who the writers care enough about to fully develop. Goo Hae Young, on the other hand, you understood what drove him. You understood his motives and the reasons why he wanted Sang Hyo so much. And more than anything, I think once you meet him, you just know they deserve to be together.
The other characters were all a joke. Used only for comic relief and as the impetus for Sang Hyo's interactions with either ends of the love triangle. It was a drama that was obsessed with love, but didn't really know how to piece it all together very well. They could have cut out 5 or 6 of the middle episodes and the drama would have been much better paced.
The murder, which could have been a really interesting focal point, was reduced to minor story points, usually used to just further the relationships. Did anyone really care who murdered those people? I certainly didn't, and the drama did a horrible job of trying to make me care about it.
All in all, it's hard to find something redeemable about this drama. But that's not to say that it isn't worth watching. There were times when it as genuinely fun, and Goo Hae Young and Nam Sang Hyo had some seriously sweet moments. Jin Yi Han is an amazing actor, and I am seriously looking forward to a more serious future role for him. While the surrounding characters were mostly shallow portrayals, they were still a lot of fun to watch their antics as they guess at the murderers and scheme to make romance happen. The love that Si Chan felt for hi boss and how much he wanted to help him be happy was adorable. And the competition for Sung Gyeum, Eun Joo, was a feisty, confident character that I legitimately liked.
If you aren't a fan of weak characters and weaker storylines, then I'd say avoid this. But if you are looking for fluff and fun, and a lot of crying (by the actors, that is), then I would say give this one a shot! It will require a lot of suspension of disbelief, but there is at least a thread of a story here that might be worth your time!
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This drama is easily, without a doubt, the weirdest drama I have ever watched. From the very beginning and your first introduction to Soo Kwang, I could tell this drama was going to be different. It was amazing and so poignant, and I honestly believe that it might make some strides in reducing the fear and ignorance people have when it comes to mentally ill individuals.
First off, I want to say just how amazingly well suited the cast was to working with each other. Their chemistry was just phenomenal, and there was hardly a moment that went by that you weren't just so happy to see them all together. Soo Kwang and Dong Min's relationship was touching, and how much they fought for each other, and WITH each other, just felt so real and unique. They were a house of people that most other people would scoff at and call them all certifiably insane, but they also all loved each other unconditionally and that is rare.
As a Running Man fan, I was so excited to watch this for Lee Kwang Soo. I was a little worried when I heard his character, Soo Kwang, was going to have Tourette's, but Kwang Soo played it off absolutely brilliantly. This was my first Jo In Sung drama, but it will certainly not be my last. He was able to put on so many hats in this drama, from the romantic leading man, to the hurt little boy who has to face his childhood demons. I was seriously impressed with his range.
Story line wise, this drama always felt fresh and was almost never boring. There were a few times when I was irritated a little bit by how much the two main leads fought towards the middle of the drama, but it was definitely barely enough to knock it down half a point.
I really loved how this drama dealt with mentally ill individuals. It never made you feel like they were ridiculing them, and it really did its best to try and foster understanding that just because a person is sick, it doesn't make them any less deserving of love and happiness. I also loved how this drama really made you question who the bad guys were, and if sometimes you weren't your own biggest enemy.
The music in this drama was just phenomenal, as well. Almost all of it was English, but it was all so upbeat and perfect, it just completely enhanced every episode in every way.
So far, if I had to pick top 5 dramas of the year, this one would definitely win a spot!
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I was in the midst of a pretty intense Kdrama slump when I started this drama. I am a huge Lee Seung Gi fan, and Cha Seung Won as Dokko Jin in The Greatest Love is one of my all time favorite male characters ever. And they definitely do not disappoint in this drama!
I think what surprised me the most about this drama was just how easily it was able to blend all of the different aspects of the show together. It was sad, but also funny, and then there were plenty of action scenes that ramped up the anxiety from time to time. There were several episodes that would take you from crying to laughing to gripping the edge of your seat, only to start all the way back at the beginning again.
The characters in this were all brilliant. Dae Gu was a stuck up jerk, suffering from a tragic past with a giant chip on his shoulder. Seo Pan Suk was the grouchy leader, unwilling to take a bunch of newbies under his wing. They both suffered from scars of their own, and it was just amazing to watch their chemistry together on screen. Soo Sun was a clutzy ditz, absolutely brimming with sincerity. Park Tae Il was charming and Ji Kook was a dorky, sweet guy. You couldn't help but love all of them and want for all of them to succeed.
I don't usually pay much attention to music in dramas, but I can't even begin to say how happy I was at the end of episode 1 when My Chemical Romance's Welcome to the Black Parade came on. It was poignant commentary on the whole situation, and it really was the perfect ending note for the episode.
I will say that I don't watch cop dramas, so if you also don't watch cop dramas, I hope that that doesn't keep you from trying this one out. While there was quite a bit to do with illegal activity and stake outs and arrests, it was so much more than that.
Seriously, watch this drama!
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Full disclosure: I'd have Ji Hyun Woo's babies if I could. After his role in Queen In Hyun's Man, I've just been in love. That being said, I was rather disappointed with his character in this drama. It was very reminiscent of the role he played in Taming of the Heir, a drama I tried and tried to finish but never could. Eun Ji's character was also reminiscent of the lead female in Taming, not to mention quite a few story similarities, down to the financial troubles, missing father (or was it a mother? I can't remember!) and little sister.
So I was asking myself, why couldn't I finish Taming when there were fairly similar, at least in my mind? I think it all has to do with chemistry. Though Ji Hyun Woo's Jang Joon Hyun was a spoiled brat in the beginning, it really did feel like his own personal growth was triggered much sooner. And Eun Ji was such a likable, strong character, that it was a lot of fun to watch them go up against each other.
The sheer number of drama tropes present in this drama after the first few episodes also contributed to my relatively low score. It was a very predictable story line. The biggest shock of the drama was just how much I fell in love with Shin Sung Rok's character. After his psychopathic character in Man From the Stars, I thought no freaking way are they trying to make me like him as a romantic lead. But this role was just perfect for him. Affable, a little ditzy and the perfect guy is as easy for him to play as the sociopath was in Man From the Stars. Of all of the drama, I am the most pleased about being able to see his range.
Honestly though, the sister was seriously the best thing about the show sometimes. She was ridiculously adorable and her chemistry with Ji Hyun Woo's character was so much fun. All in all, this drama is far from the best thing to come out of 2014's dramas, but it also isn't the worst. If you like music dramas (and that is a MUST! Eun Ji almost never stops singing in this. Every five seconds, 'should I sing you a song?' Nope, I'm good thanks.) and don't mind some corny tropes thrown in here and there, then this is something you should try out.
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I will admit something here. I dropped this drama three times! The first time, I barely lasted 20 seconds, so maybe that doesn't count. The second time I made it a whole 5 minutes, and the third time I made it to 10. I just could not stand the lead actor. He was weird, and that laugh was so awkward, but not quite in a good way like Dokko Jin from The Greatest Love. I thought there was no way I'd watch it.
But then something really awesome happened. One of my drama besties started texting me about how amazing her new drama was, and how much chemistry the lead couple had. I scoffed when she told me it was FTLY. So I decided it would get one more shot from me before being relegated to my growing dropped list.
And thank god for that! I started it up for the fourth time, and this time I made it to when the leads met. And then I was 6 episodes in before I even realized what was happening. This weird, annoying character had somehow managed to work his way into my heart, and I was absolutely hooked. That annoying laugh? I was now looking forward to it. His weird behavior? Suddenly romantic. It was like a switch had flipped, and there was no turning back.
I hope you forgive all of that insane rambling! I swear, I do have a point! Three of my other Kdrama friends had also started and dropped this drama after the first few minutes, thinking it wasn't going to be up their alley. That makes me think there might be even more of you out there who are hesitant about this drama, and I really, really want to encourage to give it a shot!
Lee Gun is a caustic, lovable jerk. He is the quintessential CEO character, a little brash with people outside of his circle and definitely a little self-serving. Kim Mi Young is the exact opposite, known as the post-it girl because she is easy to get rid of and she admittedly has no backbone or ability to say no. They are as different as night and day, and yet when they come together they are the absolute best versions of each other.
In terms of character growth, this show is the absolute best. I don't think a single character made it through this show without maturing and changing. This drama was sad at times, and I will admit to a couple scenes that had me bawling like a baby. But even through all of the tears, it is absolutely worth it.
If you've made it all the way to the end of this inane review, I hope that you will consider giving FTLY a shot. The romance, the story line, the characters, all of it combines to make an absolutely unforgettable story.
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This drama, man. It's so hard to put into words what made it so compelling, so original. But I can assuredly say that in my fairly limited experience with dramas (KoD is only my 59th), I have not watched another drama that has made me feel the way this drama has.
I was very much against watching this drama. After my disappointment with Prime Minister and I, I didn't really want to watch another drama with such a huge gap in the leads. Not because I care about things like that, but because I have noticed that in dramas with older men/younger girls, the romance is very light on the skinship aspect. And I'm not gonna lie, KoD didn't have nearly enough intimate moments, but somehow that made it so much better. In addition to my hesitancy over the romance aspect, for some reason I got it into my head that this drama was set in the early 1900s, when it is just the drama they are working on that is set in that time period.
I am not the type of person who talks to the screen very much, but with King of Dramas, one second I was screaming in frustration at the characters and the next throwing my hands up and cheering for every good thing that happened to our team. And that is the brilliance of this drama. It draws you in and makes you feel like you are a part of the story.
Now because I feel like I could go on and on forever about this drama, I also would probably end up spoiling a couple things in my eagerness, so I am going to break the rest of this review down into the score areas. It's the only way I can manage an attempt at brevity.
Acting/Cast: BRILLIANT. Everyone was so uniquely suited to their roles, and they all had such amazing chemistry together! It really did feel like you were growing and maturing along with the characters, Anthony especially. Every positive move he made, you couldn't help but feeling proud of him. Siwon as Kang Hyun Min was adorable, it kind of reminded me of a younger version of Dokko Jin from The Greatest Love. The character of Lee Go Eun was a little hard to relate to at first, just because she was so wide-eyed and naive. Luckily, you start to identify with her more and more as the story progresses.
Music: I am not someone who pays attention to music much, but I did love Big Baby Driver's song, it really fit the theme of the drama really well.
Rewatch: While I think this drama was amazing, I think a lot of it is un-rewatchable. While it wasn't as emotionally exhausting as a melodrama or a tear-jerker drama, it certainly ran you through the ringer emotion wise. One second, you are so anxious you think you might jump out of your skin, and the next you are smiling stupidly over an act of loyalty, and back to being anxious the next. That's the only reason that I think it would be hard to rewatch a lot of it.
Story: Just amazing. Seriously. The pacing, the romance, the bad guys. It was all just so expertly blended together. I usually would change a lot about dramas if I had the chance, but with King of Dramas, even when it wasn't perfect, I didn't want to change it. It was the imperfections that somehow helped you grow along with the drama, if that even makes any sense.
Seriously, if you haven't watched this drama (and actually made it to the end of this rambling review), watch it right now! It's definitely something all of us drama lovers should watch. You won't regret it!
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