Hanah
First off, this is a very quality drama. I tend to give a drama a higher rating if I enjoyed it, regardless of how well it was made, but this drama was not only a joy to watch, it was clearly very well made! All of the acting was excellent, the music fit the mood and was well-timed and the filming scenery was beautiful.
The storyline is well thought out and planned. Except for one or two (mostly subjective) points, there were no plot hiccups or illogical characterizations I could pick on. Despite being so long, the story did not drag. Things moved at a very consistent pace and there was no unnecessary dramatics. Watching Asa grow and change in a time when Japan was also growing and changing added to the depth of the story. It was so fun to watch the technologies, clothing, mannerisms and environment changed as the episodes passed by.
All of the characters were well-developed with their own quirks. I just loved watching new side characters slowly being introduced and how they slowly blended into and influenced the overall story. With such a huge cast, there were basically no "useless" characters. Asa in particular was very well-written and well-acted. She grew and changed as she grew older but her sense of self stayed the same. The same could be said of Hatsu too and I loved the strong bond the sisters carried over their lives.
Another thing that made this dorama very refreshing was that Asa was not a "special snowflake" type of lead. Oftentimes, dramas have this tendency to make sure everyone likes (or follows/agrees with) the main lead and if they don't, they are somehow portrayed as one the bad guys or inherently wrong and never part of the "main circle." There were at least a few very prominent characters that gave me the feeling that although they interacted well with her, they never really warmed up to her. Similarly, the fact the drama acknowledges the people that open the way for Asa to become successful. This is actually a minor point of contention. I am very glad the drama recognizes the strong support system it gave Asa because it's important to give credit where it is due BUT I don't believe the real-life Asako had that kind of support, so it sort of discredits her a little?
Finally, I loved how Asa ga Kita shows what it means to be feminist in the most truest way: it's about being able to choose your own path. It's not what you do, but what you are allowed to do. There were a few times I was irritated as certain character actions/thoughts, but then I realized it was for promoting that central theme-that one path is not better than another, it's the fact that you have the option to go on the path you want. Also, being a "strong female character" is not a one-fits-all description. There are a lot of ways to be a strong female and doing things that are inherently masculine (i.e. being able to handle guns, being physically stronger or outspoken) does not make female character "stronger" or "better" than other females and we should not be too quick to throw words like "doormat" or "pathetic" around.
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Funny and fantastical journey
I really appreciated the humor and the writing in this drama. The jokes are on-point and the comic timing is excellent. It's a great drama to kick back and relax to after a long day. The writing is also very good. The pacing, for the most part, is pretty solid with little drag. I was binging this until almost the last few episodes. I'm not sure if this was because I was truly felt those episodes were not that interesting or as the major political conflict was reaching the climax, the budding doubts I had about certain sequences of events were burgeoning into confusion and slight disengagement. But it's mostly subjective nit-picking and would not detract from the overall drama to most.The characters were well-written. I appreciate the character develop our male lead has. Our female lead is an endearing character with humorous pragmatism and zeal. As others have mentioned, the lead actress did a phenomenal job and it was extremely easy to differentiate who she was playing. Kudos for playing on the the standard nice-female-lead, evil-second-female lead trope. And even when the second female lead is behaving like a standard antagonist second female lead at her worst, there is complex and relatable emotions behind her actions. Being put in her position, it would be quite understandable to interpret (or misinterpret) certain situations. There were even times in the first few episodes where I was blaming the female lead and/or male lead for their words or actions and ill-unintended effect on her. The second male lead did not have as much complexity but I appreciated him for who he was and I understood this character arc. I also appreciated the insight into clans and their inner-workings. The rest of the of the cast was so lovable. Hats off to Lady Choi! The facial expressions, tone and total comedic timing of the actress are total scene-stealers! It there was a spin-off on the FL and kitchen gang having random cooking adventures, I would watch it in a heartbeat.
As mentioned above, these was some political and character conflict I was a little unsure about. In addition, it seemed like this drama was wavering between being realistic vs totally campy and unrealistic. Overall, it seemed like the comedy was the latter and the series scenes or conflicts were the former. I worked very well, but there was few "serious" conflicts that, to me, did not seem very realistic or at least I was not drawn into the suspension of disbelief. Thus the disengagement I mentioned above. Also, when most Asian dramas have the problem of telling instead of showing, I wish this drama was a little more obvious about some distinctions between Bong Hwan vs So Yong. But really, this is all minor nit-picking.
The music is great and really augments the mood of the drama. The opening ost and Bong Hwan A are so upbeat and instant mood lifters.
Overall, this is a great drama with an amazing cast of characters, brilliant acting and witty sense of humor that I recommend, hands down.
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More Family Drama than Romance
I was delightfully taken by this drama. As the title implies, I started watching for the age-gap romance but what really caught my interest and addiction to this drama was all the friendship/familyship. I really would call this more of a family, slice-of-life drama than straight romance based on how much screen time our leads ended up getting.Story: I just loved watching the He family interact with each other, how they were so bickering yet open and supportive. I know it's a cultural thing, but I liked how they just causally put food in each other's bowls. I also loved the strong friendship among the FL and her friends (and her brother too). It was really heartwarming to see them encouraging and/or gently scolding one another. I think one of my favorite parts of the show is how Song Xue and Xiao Yu walking into the He residence unannounced is considered normal behavior.
As for our main romance, it was cute. Our couple had a good enough chemistry and I was always rooting for them. Our supporting couples were cute too.
I really liked our female lead. To be honest, as I was watching the drama, there was something off about her and I couldn't figure it out until this scene where she is telling someone that she wants to be a normal person and that's what I realized felt off - she really felt more like a normal person. To me, a lot of drama female leads are written as, well, drama female leads. They are positive, cheerful, resilient, self-sacrificing, idealistic and brave, almost to the point of unrealistic. It's kind of hard to explain, but a lot of drama characters are written in a way where you enjoy watching them as characters but wouldn't see them as real people. Although Fanxing shared many similar characteristics, she had flaws - she was insecure, hesitant and timid - that got her into trouble and were frustrating to watch as a viewer but these are flaws real people have. I read a comment once on how rather than "strong female characters" dramas need to have well well-written ones and I do believe Fanxing is a well-written female lead. Coming from a culture that does not support older female/younger male romance, I could see where she was coming from and why she was making the decisions she was.
I liked our male lead too - he was adorable and I loved his earnest love for our female lead. I had mixed feelings about our second ML but I'm not sure if it's my double standards. I don't mind if when male leads are sneaky (cough Love O2O) but the way our 2nd ML went about it just irked me. I think this drama showed me why chemistry is so important. I sometimes get so frustrated with dramas where the female lead leaves this perfect 2nd lead or sees him as just a friend but I could see exactly why our female lead wanted our male lead.
Acting: Almost everyone did a decent enough job, most especially the parents. This is my first time seeing both the FL/ML act. I think Victoria did a good job. This is just my opinion, but I think the male lead did just ok. Yes, he was really (really, really) handsome. But, there were a few times I had to rely on context clues to figure out what he was thinking, I couldn't tell by looking at his face.
Music: loved the OST, really had the dreamy but calm vibe
Production: This is the one area that lowers points for me. I hated how edited a lot of the kissing/romance scenes were, to the point where I feel like didn't even see the actual scene, just a bunch of side angles and snapshots of what it was supposed to be.
Overall: At the end of the day, we watch dramas for enjoyment and this did its genre well. It was just the right mix of realism and cheesiness to make it a worthwhile watch.
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To those who want it short and sweet, I think the most important thing I have to convey about SHR is that it captured the "magic" of a Kdrama. To those that say that the plot/characters/music/logic was bad, they are probably right. But despite all of that (and it's weird, because things like that usually bother me too), I just fell in love. I guess you could say it was the Hae Soo to my Wang So (sorry, I had to...).
~
More thoughts:
It was hard to rate this drama objectively. If I really think about it, there were times when the plot was off or the characters behaved a certain way to move the plot. That's why my overall rating is a subjective one (how much I enjoyed the drama) rather than an objective one (how good it actually was). Like I said, this was the type of drama where the parts didn't equal the sum of the whole.
I thought the acting was really good. I know IU's acting of Hae Soo and Hae Soo herself got some crititism. As far as IU goes, I thought she was able to show Soo's emotions well, along with her growth and life experiences. It was good enough for me.
And as for Hae Soo, she was good enough for me too. Sure, the actions she made could be called stupid or selfish. But when I look at her reasoning, her intentions or her emotions at the time, I can understand and relate to her, and even cheer her on. If I put myself in her shoes, I would probably behave much worse.
As a side note, I feel like there are a lot of light romcom-esque sagueks these days, but a true saguek tells the story of people trying to survive in a dangerous and volatile time period. Even though, yes, there were a lot of shallow elements, I felt that SHR fell in the latter category, and that's why I was able to accept Soo as a character. Because along with the people of the time, she was trying to survive. It was also why I was able to accept the total shift in tone of the drama and the ending.
Music: as some have stated, all that pop and rapping was probably out of place for a historical drama, but I loved the songs themselves and they added to the magic. It was one of those dramas where I had to get the OSTs. And the instrumental/other music was really good to.
As a side, the setting/scenary were just pure awesome. SHR definetely reaffirmed my love for Goryeo hair and clothes.
Rewatch: I usually never re-watch dramas. This one? I woudl start watch/skimming it again while waiting for it to update.
In summary, I think this is a drama where YMMV. Some loved it, others hated it, and in a few years, newcomers may wonder what all the hype was about.
As for me, I was having a phase where I was losing interest in a show halfway through. This was the drama that brought me out of it. You could say it felt like watching my first K-drama all over again.
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Independent Female Lead, Crackling Romance, Gorgeous Clothing - So Glad I Gave This a Shot!!
I found out about this drama though an internet review. I was hesitant to watch because of the borderline rating (I almost never watch dramas rated lower than an 8) and comments about the pacing but I'm so very glad I did - I really enjoyed this one! To be fair, I believe it has a lot of elements I favor which might have played a huge factor like such independent and calm female lead, devoted male lead, amazing romance, ROC clothing and vibe and well-written characters.I think the biggest reason why I loved this drama is the female lead and her narrative. The character herself is cool, calm, elegant, intelligent and somewhat morally gray, which are all traits I especially love seeing in a female lead and the actress pulled it off really well. She looks gorgeous too! But more than that, our FL is an active character in that her decisions influence the plot and her influences and is influenced by many characters throughout the show, which to me is the hallmark of a well-written character. You may not always like the things she does, but 1. she is the one doing things rather than passively reacting to them and 2. her emotional reasoning is pretty sound.
I ended up loving the male lead to bits too. It was really interesting because at first I the actor himself did the boyish and arrogant-young-master aura really well but was struggling when trying to portray the charisma and authority of a more mature adult. But later in the drama he pulled off those scenes amazing well too and it makes it wonder if the earlier awkward acting was almost deliberately so reflex the character's ability as that time and later development. If so, well done! I really loved our main lead's romance as well and the chemistry was on fire.
I really appreciated that the other characters - especially a lot of other other females roles like the sisters, the concubines, the finance - had their own back story and motivations too, even if the drama itself did not spend too much time on it. Everyone had their own reasons for doing things and very few characters existed solely to create obstacles for our main leads. Acting of the supporting cast was excellent as well. And yes, the plot did have some various sized holes pacing did suffer a little in the last 25% but overall it was not bad - I liked the overall drama enough that it did not detract from the viewing experience.
The setting/production/clothing was all gorgeous. Although some of the sets did look a little constructed, it did not take away from the aesthetic. I like the ROC time period for as a drama watcher because the whole era has this theme of the war and corruption and tragedy underneath all the dazzling glitz and glamour, which can make for great drama. This drama fits into this theme very well. Plus, all the pretty clothes an d its always fascinating watching a changing era where you can see how the past becomes the present.
This would be a decent re-watch, especially the cute couple moments. Overall, especially if you like the tags of this drama. I would definitely recommend.
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It's brilliant
Practically everything about this drama - plot, pacing, production, acting - has so much care and scrutiny put into it and it shows. This is the kind of drama that sets the bar really high and makes it hard to go back to mediocre dramas. It's quite addicting, episodes fly by and its one of these just-one-more-episodes type dramas. I can even say it's a drama that may even get one out of a drama slump.The writing has a lot of detail and logic to satisfy the mystery elements but the pace is also fast to complement the action/thriller elements of the story. While the main characters are quite smart, the deductions they have make sense and they are not unrealistic geniuses. I really, really liked our male and female leads. The dilemmas they face and they have and evoke with all the other characters are also quite reasonable. In fact, the way the writing fleshed out almost all of the characters was wonderful. Time-looping can be a very tricky subjects but the flow of story was very smooth.
The acting matches the quality of the writing and it is extremely well done, especially all the micro expressions needed by actors at certain scenes. Our leads had a very good chemistry as well. The production quality was also excellent and again, so much attention paid to quality and detail.
The only, only gripes quite minor. Being an action/mystery set-up, our leads did go through some character development but on whole generally static characters as the norm with these genres. However, there was a little bit about the male lead's background and resulting character that was introduced and mostly but not entirely followed up on. Also, there is a specific point towards the end that spends quite some time at one points, story wise. It's very well-done but in consequence the wrap-up of the resulting scene was a little quicker than I would have liked. But these are very nit-picky and do not detract from the over all story.
This would be an interesting re-watch to try to spot the clues in advance and how everything break down. In conclusion, this is the kind of drama that is really hard to find. No matter the genre of preference, this is one most people should enjoy.
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Story/Production: You can really tell the writers and producers put a lot of thought into this and it shows. Time-travel is a very tricky subject. It is a well-known rule that going to the past affects the future, so if even one piece of sequence does not fit, it ruins the entire setup. We've all seen the dramas that start to break their own rules and mess everything up. The writers did a phenomenal job here of connecting everything so it fits and revealing it in a way that keeps viewers engaged, amazed and astounded. There is almost no filler. Entire storylines are told in a few minutes. I am still mindblown by the opening and ending sequences. Production-wise, the classroom settings, alleyways, realistic houses and old buildings really added to the viewer depth. Everything felt so natural and lack of product placement really gives it an authentic touch.
This is a personal rating criteria, but I also really like how the drama manages to give the female lead a lot of agency. Despite the influx of female leads that appear well-written on paper, once the story gets going, the female lead is often overshadowed. I was worried for a hot minute that this story would turn the male lead into the one making all of the decisions/figuring out all of the answers but, to my utter delight, that doesn't happen. Not only does the female make critical decisions that moves the plot forward, you see her relationship progress with family and friends that does not involve the male lead.
Acting: Phenomenal. You could right away which character our lead actors were trying to play, even when that character was not acting like how they usually would. The rest of the actors did a great job too, everyone felt very natural, like they actually were the characters they were playing. The actors all had good chemistry too. Siblings and BFFs felt like siblings and BFFs. And the lead two actors, their sweet chemistry is off the charts. If you took away the plot, I could probably watch 13 hours of these two just just talking or flirting with each other.
Music: Music is an important part of the story but the songs they choose really add to the nostalgic, dreamy and mysterious mood. Actually very good standalone too.
Rewatch value: Because this drama has a lot of 'boom' type revelations, it might not be as exciting the 2nd time around but since it is so intricate, it could be fun trying to break it down again from the beginning. I would re-watch it for the romance and chemistry alone.
Final thoughts: Would recommend to anyone without any hesitation. One of those dramas that are more than the sum of its parts.
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This review may contain spoilers
Interesting Characters and Good Suspense
Possible Spoilers Ahead:I think what initially drew me to this drama were the stellar reviews and comments, the somewhat unique storyline and the "cold female lead" tag. I was really tired of the silly/innocent female lead concept so this story seemed like a breath of fresh air. And after watching it, I agree with my initial thoughts.
Story: It's fairly obvious this drama is more about the suspense and scandal than true mystery and crime-solving. A lot of medical, legal and financial things are not very realistic but this does not distract from the purpose of the show or its entertainment factor. Due to being only 20 episodes (a rarity in many c-dramas), the plot is pretty tight and wrapped up very well. While clues are laid there so things can be figured out, the story does have a good amount of twists, particularly at the end. The comedic moments are nice bonus too.
Characters: I just loved our female lead. She's not really cold like the tag says but more of a cool, enigmatic but seemingly-carefree personality but with a hidden vulnerable side. She has goals, she has flaws, she has character development. I really liked her relationship with her brother, in all its aspects. She has reasons behind her decisions (whether good or bad) and she is an active characters - her actions move the plot forward. Unless I'm watching the wrong dramas, this is rare of find in a lot of c-dramas, especially web dramas. It's in direct contrast to the other (second?) female lead, Wen Ke Er, who behaves much more like a traditional female lead. She has that sweet and naïve personality and is more passive than reactive. She has her own trauma to deal with and she has her moments of independence but she ends relying on the males in her life, whether on purpose or not. She feels a deconstructed female lead archetype viewed from a second lead/side character perspective. In fact, the whole story felt like it was from the (evil) second female lead's point of view except without making her pointlessly evil. I really liked Wen Molin's warm and caring personality. He had his flaws too and you can see the direct consequences his overprotectiveness has on Ke Er. He had really good chemistry with the FL and the romance was so sweet. Chen An is also very well developed and an endearing character as well. I enjoyed all of the side characters and their progression throughout the story.
Acting: Not perfect, maybe a little stiff at times but not distracting or taking away from the story or entertainment.
Music: Excellent. The opening and ending theme songs are very catchy and the melodies fit the moods of the drama very well.
Conclusion: I think I'm partial to stories with a psychological or character driven element to them because it require well-written characters to make the story work and this drama excels at that. It blends genres pretty well and gives good food for though. Would definitely recommend.
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This review may contain spoilers
TROTAR is like eating zucchini brownies - it has that additional health benefit but still tastes as good as a regular brownie. This drama manages to provide some 'food for thought' (cough) while staying as fluffy and sweet as typical romcom, if not more so. Story/Acting: I really can't talk about the story or acting separately in this drama because both (with the production) have this nice synergistic effect that makes the drama extremely binge-worthy. At 24 episodes, the plot is not dragged out at all and story arcs finish relatively fast. It's genuinely really funny and the humor feels more original compared to other dramas. This is in part to both the well-done script writing and the actor's comedic timing and the sound effect choices. It's actually brilliant how they make serious plot points into complete jokes (in a good way). The romance was also so, so dreamy with the perfect combination of silly, sweet and serious. I particularly loved how the male lead could switch from a complete puppy to a tiger (err, the Xuanha definition of it) while remaining so devoted to the female lead. Of course, this wouldn't be possible without the actors' chemistry, which was on fire. Take out the good writing and the chemistry between these two already puts this drama on the better-than-average rating. The only points I would take off would be a somewhat weird tone shift in the last third and a little rushed pacing at the end.
Going back the the insightful commentary part, I agree what a lot of others have said about the gender equality themes. I also liked what the drama had to about character depth. What makes a strong character? One that can overcome obstacles. Are the characters we see in dramas given real obstacles or is it paper thin writing just there to make the main leads seem better? The main lead is the main lead because the story is written to make sure they come out on top. But what if is wasn't written that way? Makes me think of all the dramas I watched if those characters really strong enough to overcome their obstacles or if they even had obstacles in the first place.
Music: Loved the beginning and ending OSTs, definitely added to that fun, zippy feel
Rewatch value: Don't usually rewatch dramas but will most likely replay clips on YT
Overall: Recommend without hesitation!
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Action Packing and Engaging
There is a lot to like about this drama. It's addictive, fast-paced and very-well produced and acted. This was a solid 9-9.5 until almost the last episode where plot seems almost rushed and character decisions toe the line between making sense and not. Still, it is a solid conclusion and the drama as a whole is incredible so I averaged it to 8.5At 8 episodes screen time but the same amount of content as a standard K-drama, the writing is pretty well-paced with little to no filler. As someone who watches some but not a ton of crime/revenge dramas, some of the twists and turns were cliché but executed well enough to be entertaining while others were a true revelation. I really appreciate that this was female-lead driven. Despite the plethora of physically/mentally strong females in drama nowadays, 1) action dramas are still mostly male-lead driven and 2) the writing for these females can be inconsistent or overdone. Jiwoo consistently maintains her physical strength and her thought process remains consistent with her characterization. More importantly, her actions help drive the plot and at the, this is her story. Mujin is also a very interesting character who evokes a lot of different emotions and Pildo just brings so much positive energy.
On this end, the story is brought to life with amazing acting. All the actors/actresses did a phenomenal job, especially Han So Hee. The production, sets and lighting are also incredibly well-done; I loved that somewhat somber lighting. The music is also astounding. Not only are the tunes catchy and entertaining on their own (I was listening to Mediocre Life on repeat these past few days), they completely complement and elevate the drama. This is decent re-watch.
In conclusion, honestly, the only reason I watched this was because it was a female-lead led action drama. That aside, it is an engaging drama with good writing, great production, terrific music and supreme acting that I would definitely recommend.
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This review may contain spoilers
Heartwarming drama that keeps getting better
I'm going to divide my review into two parts - one a non-spoiler general thoughts and another thoughts as an Asadora, with spoilers.In general, this is a very heartwarming drama. The story is well-written and well-paced with good transitions between arcs and good connecting themes that brings things full circle. Natsu, our main female lead, is a really likable character and it it really is a joy watching Natsu experience new things and working on her dream. I really, really like that fact that Natsu has to put in hard work and practice and not some special genius.
There is a huge cast of endearing characters that influence and get influenced by Natsu as well. I'm sure the one most viewers will like the most is Jiichan (the grandfather), there is enough characters for everyone to have their own personal favorites. The acting is also top-notch. I appreciate how the background, i.e. life on a diary farm, is properly shown and not just there for show. I also appreciate how much anime design technique is explained and expanded upon. It's really neat seeing how a story comes together from a storyboard to the moving picture. Almost makes me want to become an anime creator myself.
There production is very good too and there is good attention given to detail. I love seeing random posters of Natsu's work in her families' homes. The shots from Hokkaido (if that's where it was really filmed) are gorgeous. It makes it all the most easier to immerse myself into the drama-world. Overall, this a great drama, especially if you are in the mood for something laid-back with focus on family, friends, achieving your dreams and anime creation. Spoilers below:
***SPOILERS***
Now, as an Asadora, I thought this was good but not great. I felt like this drama could have been the GOAT but felt more like lost potential. I've watched a couple of asadoras at this point and maybe I might be viewing the others through nostalgic, rose-tinted lens but I could not help but compare them to Natsuzora.
1. The pacing: as I said above, the pacing is good throughout the drama is pretty good. But it felt a little slow and somewhat limited as an Asadora, which is generally supposed to be about the main lead's life. I was having doubts when Natsu was still a child at close to the end of the second week. The pace does pick up but she does not start animation until almost 1/3 to 1/2 into the drama and the drama ends when she in her mid-to-late thirties. Women's lives don't end at age 36; in fact, some women start their lives at that age. You can still grow and experience change - I think of how Asa ga Kita was planning on opening a university at that time and Beppin-san was expanding her financial pursuits. The real-life animator Natsu's character was based on, Reiko Okuyama, had some great works later in life. She lived until 2007 and was working as an animator until she passed away.
2. Animation: Especially in light of this focusing on Natsu's journey through Japanese animation, which hits it really big globally 20 years later, ending the drama so early seems like wasted potential. The drama ends with hints of the team going on to achieve even better things and ending themes of 'a new future' or 'beginning again' or 'going on to achieve our dreams.' But really, why? If you're going to make a drama about someone working on achieving their dreams, why not actually show them achieving it? As I stated above, the drama stops around the mid-1970s, when Natsu is in her mid-to-late 30s. She would have been around to see the birth and success of the infamous Studio Ghibli and shows like Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball Z or Pokémon become household names across the world. I think those scenes would have really added depth to her life as an animator and be really moving to watch as a viewer.
3. The cast of characters: this one is kind of minor tbh. Having a huge cast of characters seems to be an Asadora hallmark. However, it felt like with the other few Asadoras I've watched, despite the huge list of characters, there were no "wasted" characters. Whether they had a major or minor role, almost all of the characters had a good amount of development and/or important roles that influenced the plot. This did not seem to be the case here and some characters felt more like props. Akemi is a good example - she is there but we never get to know her. Of course, some characters (like Yumiko) got better development later as well.
So overall, it's still a good drama I would recommend hands-down but just with a lot of wasted potential.
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Hard to Start but Stayed Up All Night to Finish It
I had really hard time picking between 8.5 or 9 to rate this one. It personally took for effort to get into but once the plot got rolling, I was so addicted I sacrificed sleep to keep watching, an action I have not had for a drama in a really long time.Story: As I stated above, the story was really hard to get into at first. There is no fluff there. It dealt with themes that I am not used to in dramas (or, that I am not used to the protagonists displaying, more accurately) and the personality of certain characters, particularly the female lead, was really hard to digest. But as the drama kept going, especially around the mid-way point, I noticed just how intricately everything was placed. Things did not happen because the plot was just 'written like that' - there was a precise mechanism of action that lead to major events happening. I loved how events in later-on episodes referenced past episodes that made it come full circle.
As the plot thickened, the characters also grew depth. The story is in large part character-driven so part of the reason the plot is so seamless is because multiple characters make decisions that move the plot forward. If a single character had not made the decision they did, the plot would not have ended up in that direction. Although some characters can be frustrating and others disappointing, almost all of them have a reason for behaving they way they do. In short, active, well-written characters. At the heart of it was Go Hye Ran, who I went from unlikeable to grudging respect to full blown admiration to utmost devotion. She is one the best-written female leads I have seen recently. I like how her character goes through major development yet her essence remains unchanged through out the show. I love how though she can be ruthless, unpleasant and use unconventional means to get her way, she always plays thing straight. She lays her trap out and waits for others to get ensnared. If you did nothing wrong, you would never have gotten caught. And I also like that she (or almost all of the characters for that matter) do not get to escape from her flaws. I also had a very soft spot for Director Jang and Office Manager Jeong.
Acting/Production: The acting was top-notch from the entire cast, especially our two leads. The female lead in particular; it is very hard to pull of that kind of role but the actress did brilliantly. The production was also astounding. I'm not the best at identifying cinematography stuff but the lighting and camera angles and frame shots added so much depth to the story.
Music: Definitely added to the mood. I particularly loved "Painful Love."
Rewatch Value: Seeing as I watched this 3 years later, I had already knew the spoilers. So, going on with that knowledge, I still thoroughly enjoyed the drama. In fact, I may have enjoyed it even more since I could look at events in a different light.
I think, more than the plot itself, this drama was also about themes. Some where addressed directly, such as success vs happiness, love vs obsession, greed & corruption and internal/external locus of control. I liked how the dramas slightly glamourizes but does not glorify themes that it should not, such as corruption, greed or violence. One interesting theme I feel like the drama addresses subtly and almost lampshades is gender roles and the concept of men needing to be protectors. Several men try to do things for our female lead in the name of protecting her, but it is interesting to see the effects of that so-called protection play out.
All-in-all, this is a drama I highly recommend and hope to see a similar caliber of in the future!
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What I Loved:
MGY is excellent as Eun Jo. I really liked how they dared to make a dark heroine, and they flipped the usual bright-and-cheery female lead and cold second female around. She really did a good job bringing Eun Jo to life and making her flawed but likeable.
Seo Woo was pretty good as Hyo Son too. I did fall for her cuteness, a bit, but I also got irritated wth her a bit too.
I liked the scenary a lot too. I liked how in took place in sort of a rural-ish area (to me--I'm not from Korea, so I wouldn't know, but it had that small town feel to it).
Things that bothered me:
I loved the pretty footwear, but I hate how the girls were running around in them. It was just so distracting lol.
Taecyeon's Han Jun Woo was a bit under-utilized. I wish there were more scenes with him and Eun Jo, especially because he is the only one that gets Eun Jo to act a certain way.
To note:
The plot can be a bit slow, and the pacing a bit off at times, so if those are deal-breakers to you, be wary.
Overall:
Watch is you want a complex, unique female lead, character growth
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As many reviews have stated, the cover and description of the drama make it sound like a fun comedy, and while it has some comedic moments, it's very, very serious. To be honest, I was shying away from this drama because it didn't have romance, but I got interested when I heard all the rave reviews on KHS's acting. I started and then then marathoned it in 2 days.
Honestly, everything about this drama is amazing--tight, well-written plot with well-timed twists and turns, a-maz-ing cast with a-maz-ing chemistry, great music. What I love the most and what makes the heart of the drama (for me) is KHS's Jo Kang Ja. She is such an awesome, mature, cool, noble, compassionate, badass female lead. She stands up for what she believes in, she helps those in need and she knows how to throw a punch. I love, love, love her.
Along the same lines, I also LOVE how the drama takes the usual naive female lead and wordly male lead, and flips it around. I don't think I've seen any other drama do this, ever.
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This review may contain spoilers
Sweet Romance and Epic Story
L&R took me on a wild adventure and it has the sweetest romance. I went in with medium expectations - kind of high because of the ratings, kind of low because the premise seemed tropey. The storyline and world-building is what drew me in but the cast of characters is what kept my attention.Story: seems kind of tropey and predictable but actually pretty well thought out with interesting twists. The pace is pretty fast in the beginning which kept me interested and pacing is pretty good. I personally had a really hard time grasping what "loss of six senses" meant (the physical senses? also emotionless? but why does it seem more like trouble understanding social norms?) so that was an initial roadblock for me. The world-building is awesome partly in due to the excellent production and CGI. It felt like being immersed in a video game at times. It's only after finishing the drama do I realize the ending really makes this drama. In an effort to increase suspense, the drama purposely withholds things until much later. It makes for a great twist but as someone who likes to fully immerse and understand the plot, it kind of felt more like a plot hole or that the story was not well-written until the twist is revealed. Rather than an unpredictable revelation, it was more like 'oh, why didn't you just say that sooner'? The mask thing would be the best example. Some of the conflicts were overly frustrating and repetitive, which prevented me from giving a higher rating. There a few scenes that are overly flashbacked (like, you might get bits of the flashback as the story progresses, then longer versions of those bits then the entire sequence so by the end it is shown 4-5 times). On the other hand, there a few scenes or plot points that are hinted at or built up that never fully get explored. One of the villain's endings was too abrupt and it felt like all of his other characteristics were taken away. I have mixed thoughts on what they did with the female lead's character toward the end. But the overall story is cohesive with a sound message.
Characters/Acting: While the story is the foundation of the drama, the characters are the heart. I liked our main leads, which are both acted very well. I probably would not have liked these leads if it were not for the actors. The naive/cutesy/stupid female lead trope is a hit or miss (mostly miss) for me but I really liked Xuan Ji. Like I've indicated in other posts, despite her naivety, she is charmingly straightforward, relatively calm and values proper communication. When she is aware there is a problem or misunderstanding, she tries her best to fix it, through words or actions. This is very consistent throughout the drama. And her physical strength is a nice bonus. And who does not love Si Feng and his sweet devotion to our female lead? I melted at the way he would stare at her. He pretty much tops the charts for selfless love and is always silently sacrificing himself for the female lead's sake. But is that really a good thing? Si Feng is the kind of boyfriend/husband that would (if he could get away with it) hide the fact you have kidney disease, secretly donate his kidney to you and sell all of his assets to pay for the medical bills. That's...romantic, but it's also a bit much. IMO, communication is an important part of a healthy relationship. My point is, Si Feng is written as the most flawless male lead and superficially, it looks like it is the female lead that is causing all of their conflict. But (imo) he is not blameless, even though the drama never addresses this. That aside, the romance is still very touching and that two actors have a lot of chemistry.
The supporting roles are also well-written and well-acted. I loved Ting Nu, Brother Liu and Purple Fox. You could tell they had many years of cultivation under their belt because they were often the voices of reason our leads needed. Brother Liu was essentially the group relationship counselor. Wu Zhi Qi is someone who is name-dropped a lot and does not appear until very late into the show but he is so worth the wait. His causal swagger and lazy, flirty demeanor that hides a sharp eye and keen insight are so swoon worthy. But my #1 spot has to go to Teng She, who is a scene stealer and basically carries the drama. This actor is such a comedic genius; he is able to control the level of humor a scene has and also influences the other character's vibe around him. Take Hao Chen for example, who is a very serious person. The same facial expressions or eye widening that come off as serious or angry become completely comedic under Teng She's influence. Adding to that, I cannot believe he was the drama I has finished just prior to starting L&R (Miss Gu Who is Silent) and I didn't even recognize him! That aside, he is very witty and his commentary almost breaks the 4th wall. He is such a loyal friend. I loved watching his friendship with Xuan Ji because of how they trusted and supported one another. He reminds me of a more platonic version of Tal Tal in Empress Ki.
Music: beautiful, exciting and epic. The pieces were really nice to listen to on their own and really added to the emotions of the scene.
Rewatch value: I don't typically re-watch dramas but I just finished it and am skimming though episode 1 again while writing this review, mostly to help recapture my initial thoughts on this drama. Actually, it might be a better watch the second time around since I'm not so busy trying to keep everyone straight and all those details at the beginning now make sense.
Bottom line: Xianxias generally have an expectation to be epic, with an intricate storyline, detailed world-building, varied cast of characters and passionate romance spanning lifetimes. But they can get predictable, because it is always the same types of characters and same conflict . This drama does not escape from the tropes but presents them from a fresh angle. That, plus the good actin and great production make this a worthwhile watch.
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