Amy
I seldom write reviews for dramas, but I felt that this drama was worth my time to recommend it to others. Frankly, I went into this drama without high expectations because the plot summary sounded a bit funny at first. However, this drama proved me wrong and turned out to be one of the best rom-coms I have ever watched. I found myself waiting desperately for each Wednesday and Thursday to come, so that I could immediately tune in for the latest episode. And, more so, I found myself laughing and crying along with the characters.
This is a drama for people who like simple romance, without much salt and pepper, just pure unsophisticated interactions between two individuals in their home space as they gradually fall in love. This is also a drama for people who like to focus on main leads and don’t care much about side characters and their subplots, because all the side characters in this drama are purely for the development of the leads.
Story 8.5/10
The story is about a man called Kim Min Kyu (Yoo Seung Ho) who, due to childhood trauma, developed a rare illness that causes him to be allergic to humans (as in REAL skin allergy!) and he has since then lived all by himself for 15 years. Doctor Hong Baek Gyun (Uhm Ki Joon) gets Min Kyu to test out his newly invented robot, but due to unexpected circumstances, Jo Ji Ah (Chae Soo Bin) was sent in in place of the robot, and there begins their cohabitation life where Min Kyu slowly opens his heart and learns to trust people again. The story focuses on the two main leads and their daily interactions, keeping the story simple and linear. However, that does not make it boring, as seeing their relationship grow in real time was what I enjoyed most in the process. AND THEY WERE JUST TOO CUTE. Although this is a rom-com, it does have a melo downturn in the second half, so be prepared for some angst.
The reason why I deducted marks from the story, is because the pacing was a bit off in the last several episodes. Sometimes they would deliberately drag the plot for an episode to end in a cliffhanger. This took a toll on the plot development, causing the ending to be too rushed because there were many things left to resolve. However, the chemistry between the characters will still keep you anticipating for the next episode.
The story is not without clichés or plotholes, and while you may judge the realisticity of the story by asking “hey, how is it possible for him to not know how to distinguish between robot and human??”, I would say it depends on what you expect from watching this drama. Since this is a sci-fi/fantasy rom-com, its main goal is to present a funny, light-hearted story that does not necessarily have to follow the principles of reality, as long as it is internally consistent and effectively delivers what it wants to deliver. And I think this drama did an excellent job at telling a beautiful story about how bonds are formed, and how love could make you recognize a person’s soul no matter how they may change. As long as you overlook the basic assumptions that the story is founded upon, it is an enjoyable story.
Cast 10/10
Cast was well chosen and fit their roles A LOT – one of the major reasons this drama was well-received is because of the likable cast that keeps us wanting for more.
First of all, Yoo Seung Ho gave a stellar performance as usual. When he cries, you just can’t help but want to cry with him. His emotions felt so genuine and real, that his agony transcended through the screen. From happiness, to disbelief, and ultimately to despair, the transition of his feelings was like that of a real person. Imo, he delivered well the struggles and inner conflict of a character who fell in love with a robot.
Chae Soo Bin’s doll-like appearance and figure makes for a believable robot, and she did an amazing job portraying three personalities (a human, a robot, and a human pretending to be a robot) and they all feel different. On top of that, she had amazing chemistry with Seung Ho. Their adorable interactions were a major leverage to the story, and I don’t think any other pair would have spiked the same type of cuteness-overloaded, star-struck chemistry as they did.
I loved how the Santa Maria research team and the leads were like a real family that cared for each other wholeheartedly. Every member had distinct personalities that made them memorable. As for the villains, they were mainly there to establish the bond between the two leads (and to showcase Aji 3’s intelligence). I was looking forward to the push-pull brotherhood tension between Min Kyu and Yoo Cheol, but sadly it wasn’t developed. I wish the love lines of the side characters were talked about more as well.
Overall, the characters could have been explored in more detail, but since I happen to not be the type of audience who likes side characters and side stories, I am already satisfied enough with my devotion to the two leads. In terms of casting, they all fit their roles very well and I will always remember them as these roles.
Message 10/10
I liked how they made a contrast between characters who think using logic (i.e. the scientists, Aji 3) and characters who think using feelings (i.e. Ji Ah). it shows that emotional intelligence is also a type of intelligence and, although it is often left unseen, it is a quality that’s not inferior to logic. The deeper message – human emotions is something that cannot be mimicked using logic, it is something that can only be felt by humans.
I would say the main selling point of this drama is the sincerity of emotions that the characters share and the heartwarming message. I was definitely touched by the genuine emotions of Ji Ah. She made me understand that sometimes things don’t have to be practical or logical to be meaningful. It’s the heart of a human that makes them transcend robots, and the heart of a human that can make a seemingly useless object become meaningful.
OST 8/10
There’s not much to say about the OST. All the songs match well with the sweet atmosphere of the drama.
Overall 9/10
I can’t say this drama has the best plot, but the chemistry between the characters and the heartfelt messages made up for it. Overall, it’s a drama with sincere characters that are able to touch people’s hearts using their dialogue. The chemistry, characters, atmosphere, and Yoo Seung Ho’s expressive acting have made it work.
It’s been a long time since I’ve been so invested in a drama. This drama reminds me of why I started liking Korean dramas, and I’m certainly glad I didn’t judge a book by its cover and gave it a try. This is one of the dramas that I will always remember even after a long time. It has a special place in my heart.
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This review may contain spoilers
(There are heavy spoilers ahead for those who haven't watched it, since this is a review mainly about the details of the plot.)Burning is the type of film that has multiple themes but still manages to bring them out clearly through layers of symbolism. Recurring themes are sprinkled throughout the run time, and seemingly unimportant details become essential to the appreciation of this work. The slow-paced, character-driven plotline may be a turn-off for certain viewers, but rewards those who are patient and attentive to details. In this review, I will try to unfold all the themes that I have observed throughout the story.
Theme #1: Fact vs Imagination
A recurring theme in the story is what is real and what not. This is first mentioned through Haemi's depiction of an imaginary tangerine, peeled and consumed between her fingers. "Rather than imagining its existence, you forget about its non-existence... and naturally your mouth waters", she says. Another instance is Haemi's cat Boil, which Haemi tells Lee Jong Soo to feed while she is gone. The cat is never seen in the apartment despite Jong Soo's frequent visits. This could be a reference to the "Schrödinger's Cat", a quantum thought experiment in which a cat is simultaneously dead and alive, until it has been observed. Another reference of this is when Ben says he is "here and there, at home and out travelling, in Korea and in Africa". Haemi also talks about falling into a well at the age of 7, feeling disappointed that Jong Soo doesn't remember him saving her at the time. After further enquiries, Haemi's family claims that there was never a well at their place, while Jong Soo's mother remembers the well having existed. Was there ever a well? Or was it all made up by Haemi? The dual nature of existence expands further to the actions of the main characters -- whether there was truly a greenhouse that Ben burnt down, why Haemi suddenly vanished, and whether Ben was the culprit behind Haemi's disappearance. Did Haemi run away to escape from her debt, commit suicide because of her existential depression, or was she really killed? Near the end, Jong Soo calls Ben's new cat "Boil", and the cat runs into his arms. We never know if this is a mere coincidence, or if Ben killed Haemi and adopted her cat. These events highlight the ambiguity and uncertainty of life, that we can never be sure about what we seem to know, and everything is up for interpretation and our own belief.
Theme #2: Presence vs Absence
Another theme is an unsettling tension caused by the desire for something and the lack thereof. The absence of Haemi and the lust that Jong Soo has for her, the absence of a mother figure in Jong Soo's life and his loneliness as a person living a solitary life in a rural area carrying the weight of his father's prosecution on his shoulders, the absence of the cat that is believed to exist, and the phone calls that remain silent regardless of anticipation. This unsettling tension is evident even to the audience, whose questions about the plot are never answered. Jong Soo fails to find enough evidence to prove that Ben killed Haemi, and it leaves us hanging forever even after the credits roll. Our emotions become one with Jong Soo, and we become Jong Soo himself -- we want to search for truth, to be certain that we know something, to the point we start to believe what we want to believe just for the sake of filling that void in our minds. The movie ends without answering any of our questions, because the essence of this movie is not what the truth is, it's how we and the main character react to not knowing the truth. Something is off, but we don't know what exactly is wrong. It's always the absence of something that makes our skin crawl. We keep answering that anonymous phone calls hoping that someone will say something, so that we can know the "who", "what" and "why", and every time they aren't answered, we feel more impatient and curious, and "burn" with the growing desire of receiving a response -- this brings us to the next theme that we will explore.
Theme #3: Burning
The title of the movie is "Burning", so there are plenty of "burning" symbolisms sprinkled throughout. The burning bonfire of the "Great Hunger" dance depicting Haemi's desperate search for the meaning of life, the burning greenhouses suggesting Ben's unruly and destructive tendencies, the burning clothes of Jong Soo's mother representing the desire to sever ties and erase memories, the burning scene of the crime when Jong Soo kills Ben representing his hatred, and the burning lust and passion that Jong Soo has for Haemi that is never satisfied after Haemi drifts apart from him and eventually disappears from his life. Even the audience experiences a burning sensation of wanting to unravel the mysteries but is unable to -- resembling a slowly burning pot that never gets to boil.
Theme #4: Working class vs The "Gatsby"
There is an apparent gap of living between Jong Soo/Haemi and Ben/Ben's female friends. While Jong Soo is unable to earn a living as a creative writer and Haemi is struggling to make ends meet with all that endless debt, Ben lives a worry-free life cooking pasta at home and blurring the line between "fun" and "work". Jong Soo cannot do anything but frown when he realizes that he has lost his love to a man in a speeding Porche. The way Ben yawns and his friends laugh is almost humiliating sometimes, even though they try to cover up their lack of interest and degrading attitude behind their noble facades. To Ben, people's possessions (and probably people too) are only toys to him, things that can disappear without a trace without drawing any attention from the police, because they are too insignificant to be concerned about. The haunting thing about this is how true it is. When Haemi disappears, nobody seems to notice or care at all, because losing one lonely and ordinary girl does not matter at all to the world. Regardless of whether Ben murdered her, the indifference of the world towards a girl's disappearance is brutal enough, and shows how frail a person's life is if they are a nobody.
Theme #5: The clash of characters
It was brought up multiple times that Jong Soo's "occupation" is a creative writer, yet we never see him writing except in two distinctive scenes. Jong Soo spends most of his time managing his father's farm, passing the time at home, feeding Haemi's unobservable cat, and satisfying his sexual desires. The only piece of writing we see from him is the petition he writes for his father who is being convicted, implying that rather than using his writing skills for creative production, he can only use them to solve his real-life issues. One of the possible reasons could be that he is incapable of writing, because he is merely a mindless empty shell stuck in his past. He resonates with Faulkner's work, because he thinks it resembles his own life (his past), but he has no other thoughts aside from this past, nor does he have enough connection with the outer world to come up with any story for a novel. Due to having a broken family and lacking maternal love he is unable to properly interact with the world and enjoy life, but deep inside he longs for a connection, and tries to address this loneliness through touching himself. He is only surviving, but not living. Haemi, on the other hand, is drowning in debts but living her life in complete spontaneity. She is free-spirited and always has her head in the clouds, as if she is drunk. She smiles at one moment, and suddenly bursts into tears in another. She dances wildly, strips herself naked, without social schema ever crossing her mind. Haemi may seem insane, but she could be the most sane character in the story -- the only character that is truly living, that knows what is real and what is not, and contemplates about life's meaning. Despite having plastic surgery, she is more raw and authentic than those who live wearing a mask. And this is what Jong Soo likes about her, but what Ben finds boring. The three characters have different personalities and backgrounds, which ignites interesting sparks in their encounters.
Theme #6: Gender roles
The movie briefly touches on topics of toxic masculinity and female oppression in society. Quoting from Haemi's friend, "there is no country for women", women are often subject to scrutiny and harsh standards. "You're ugly", "Only prostitutes take off their clothes like that in front of men", Jong Soo is the typical traditional male who applies the scrutiny of appearance and behaviour. To Jong Soo, Haemi is the target of his sexual fantasies, the serrogate of a mother figure, and just an "ugly" girl that he doesn't remember from his past but a smoking love interest after her physical transformation. Ben takes on the role of playboys in society, those who pretend to respect and treasure women because "women like that are interesting", but actually see women as objects of possession, and to the extreme in this case, "trophies" that can be collected.
There could be more themes in this movie waiting to be discovered, but the above is my take on its more easily accessible themes. Burning is a masterpiece when it comes to having multiple themes perfectly woven together and presented through a single sit-through. It is a hidden gem among the countless fast-paced Korean films of this era, as it manages to go against the tides to adopt a more relaxed pace of story-telling, and such attempt was highly successful.
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Don't watch this if you cannot accept human and robot relationships
This is the drama that made me look forward to Mondays. I would rush home from work every night just to watch the live stream in raw, even though I didn’t understand Korean. A lot of people gave this drama negative comments and a low score because they couldn't accept the FL and a robot falling in love. Well, hate to burst your bubble but, this has always meant to be an interspecies romance and they never masked that fact or tricked you into believing it wasn't. If someone thinks this kind of thing is not okay, then the drama is simply not for them. It doesn't mean there is a problem with the quality of the drama itself.The Message
The title “Are You Human Too?” is a mockery to humans that have lost their good in humanity. A pure robot, Nam Shin III, that always thinks for others first is meant to draw a contrast to bring out the dark side of human nature, and have us reflect on what it means to be human. When I first heard about this premise, I was worried whether they would be able to deliver this message well. But this drama never failed to meet my expectations. At first glance, it may be unfair to compare a perfect robot to flawed humans, but the morale of the story is not to conclude that robots are better, it’s that humans, although flawed, should strive to become better and sometimes to humbly learn from a robot who has outgrown its owner in kindness and justice. In the story we can see characters who have been blinded by their dark sides and have forgotten about humanity. This humanity, hopefully, will be restored through Nam Shin III, who teaches these people an important life lesson about being selfless.
The Plot
This is a sci-fi drama, but it’s not the type that keeps you at the edge of your seat from the very first episode. Rather, it focuses on character relationships and how each affects the other. That being said, there are more than enough mind-blowing plot twists and shocking cliffhangers to keep us engaged. The ending of each episode had my mouth gaping in awe, as I wait another one more week to watch its resolution. Unfortunately, the plot became a bit draggy in the middle half, and there were certain episodes where nothing much happened. There was definitely some potential that they could have explored about AI and the sci-fi genre, but they didn't. The drama was still largely entertaining and the first of its kind, so there's that.
The Characters
First, I would like to give a thumbs up to Seo Kang Joon’s stellar performance acting as a robot and a human being. This is his first time starring dual roles, one of them being non-human, but he was able to differentiate the personalities really well. You could tell which was which just by looking at their subtle facial expressions.
In this drama, the villains, or more accurately the “flawed humans”, are the ones that drive the plot. Despite being a pain in the neck, these characters are inevitably 3-dimensional, each having their own backstory and motives that drive their actions. You may wish for their downfall in one moment, and pity them in another. All in all, they are realistic characters that you would understand where they are coming from no matter if you agree with them or not. It goes to show that humans have both bright and dark sides, and villains can also be victims at the same time.
The Chemistry
I really appreciate how beautiful the OTP’s relationship is. Despite not having a lot of screen time or skinship together, they have great on-screen chemistry and their bonding is amazing. Their relationship taught me about what it means to love someone, and that love isn’t a feeling or emotion, it’s a value that you live for. Nam Shin III can comprehend emotions but he can never feel them, but it doesn’t stop him from experiencing love and becoming truly like a human through breaking the boundaries of robotics.
The OST
I have most of the songs on replay, and every time a song was released I’d download it within 3 hours and listen to it. All the songs were good and fit the scenes very well. One of the songs worth noting is The Longing Dance, which really enhances the cinematic atmosphere of the drama.
This drama is recommended to people who like deep messages about humanity, love, 3-dimensional villains and a cute puppybot companion. If you don’t mind interspecies romance between a robot and a human, definitely give it a try!
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Heavenly potential, demonic execution
The novel “Chong Zi”, penned over 10 years ago, features a once popular, now outdated premise — master-disciple relationship. To adapt such an old novel in 2023 is a risky move; not only has the audience already seen similar works that they would naturally draw comparison to (e.g. Journey of Flower), but even the official “synopsis” gives the entire plot away. There is not much room left to tell a compelling story, let alone something new and refreshing. This drama ended up having a very mixed reception and for good reasons. Here I will try to review this drama honestly by listing out why it is good and why it is bad.【Why is it good?】
— Interesting male lead —
One would think all this drama could offer is an old-fashioned story absent of any surprises. But behind the datedness, there lies an innovative gem. The highlight of the show, and a huge reason why people are enjoying it, is the male lead Luo Yin Fan’s intriguing characterization (and Jeremy Tsui’s perfect portrayal of him). Luo Yin Fan starts off being quite the typical gentle, warm and caring male lead, but behind that exterior lies something darker waiting to be manifested. While most anti-heroes eventually achieve greatness, Luo Yin Fan slowly descends into madness for love. If you’re interested in fifty shades of morally grey leads, then you’re in for a treat. This is as much a story about Chong Zi becoming a demon as it is about Luo Yin Fan going bonkers. They are like the mirror image of each other, or the yin yang couple — one has light under their darkness, and the other has darkness under their light. One is an immortal with a demon skin, the other a demon with an immortal skin. They complete each other like the Taichi symbol. This goes to show that there is no pure good and evil, a human is an embodiment of both.
— Thought-provoking message —
The side characters also illustrate this message — seemingly rightous immortals commit the most heinous of crimes, and inside their hearts live demons that are far worst than any physical demon in the story. The message is powerful and well presented. As a fan of the original novel, I came into this drama with very specific expectations — to see in action one of the most interesting male leads ever written, and to witness the beautiful symbolisms and character nuances from the original work. In these regards, the drama did a passing job at delivering. However, certain pivotal scenes from the source material (that were meant to tie into the core theme) were butchered by nonsensical changes in the story due to censorship and bad writing.
— Nice symbolism —
The Taichi symbol appears in the drama poster. It is also in the black-white necklace Chong Zi gifts to Luo Yin Fan. The costumes are simple but have symbolic meaning In them as well. Kind-hearted demons wear costumes that are mainly black but have white fringes, while evil immortals/fairies wear costumes that are white but have dark accent colors. The male lead, Luo Yin Fan’s costumes were mainly white at first, but gradually turned purple the more he fell for Chong Zi (“Zi” means purple in Chinese). I found that to be very cute. The OSTs of this drama were also very well crafted, with beautiful melodies and lyrics that were themed around each of the main characters.
All in all, stellar work from the cast, costume designers, music producers and the source novel author.
We then shriek in agony as we witness this hard work go down the drain... due to the points below.
【Why is it bad?】
— Sloppy directing, writing and editing —
For starters, the director does a poor job grasping what the audience wants to see and what they don’t. Often times, people would wait for a certain scene in anticipation, excitedly picturing it in their heads, only to end up with a choppy, censored, and emotionally underwhelming rendition of what they were expecting. Meanwhile, uninteresting parts of the plot would take up more time than it should. Scenes that were meant to elicit emotions from the audience felt flat, and just like another commenter has said, "the angst is not angsting".
Behind-the-scenes clips would reveal that many scenes did not make it into the final release. This is due to censorship - protagonists cannot do anything borderline evil, master & disciple cannot be intimate with each other, everything that's core to the story is lost. Certain scenes do not transition well due to cut scenes. Each episode also does not start from the end of the previous episode and feels disjointed.
— Changing the novel in a bad way —
Certain parts of the plot were changed to make the male lead more likable and forgivable, which is understandable because the male lead in the novel does not deserve the female lead. But not all changes were good changes. Around 60% of the story and dialogue comes from the novel, and that 60% lives up to standards because they stem from the original author’s consistent understanding of the source material. But the remaining 40% that was added by the screenwriter, not so much. Dialogue was occasionally cringey and showed a general lack of logical thinking from characters. The forbidden aspect of the master-disciple romance was also removed, thereby causing certain character decisions and dialogue to not make much sense as they were originally written under the premise that master-disciple relationship was taboo. The screenwriter tried to come up with other reasons for the characters to do or say those things, but the reasoning was weak. (e.g. Ep.23-26). Many unnecessary misunderstandings were added just to drag the plot along. It’s fine to deviate from the novel and tell a different story, but have it make sense and do it only if it enhances the work.
— Poorly written side characters —
While the characters all serve a central theme or message, the characterizations of most of the characters are lacking. Often more than not, characters feel like tools to move the plot forward and do not resemble real-life people. Several evil female supporting roles have shallow character motivations and all serve the same purpose, and most male supporting roles are merely love interests (5 of them!) of the female lead but without solid chemistry. Reverse harem was probably meant to be a gimmick that sadly did not work out. Not only do those love interests lack screen time to properly flesh out their relationship with the female lead, they also fall in love with her for no reason. (Ironically, the one character who has the most chemistry with the female lead is not even a love interest.) Luckily, the main couple has decent chemistry to offer. The romance is a slowburn and the leads start off as more like teacher and student due to female lead’s childish personality at first, but this grows into something fiery and passionate later on when the female lead gets character development. However, it takes time for the ship to sail and some may find the chemistry lacking early on.
— Childish female lead —
A lot of people cannot get through the first arc of the story, mostly due to their distaste for the female lead’s childish, bratty and trouble-making personality. The female lead goes through a three-stage character development. She starts off like a kid — naive, impulsive, overly sheltered and spoiled, but has a kind heart that would help anyone in need. She is showered with love but caged like a bird. In her second life, she becomes more calm and composed, but also more possessive and insecure, like a young maiden in puberty. And by the end, she becomes more independent and free, takes justice in her own hands. Since she does not mature quick enough to satisfy certain audiences, if you hate childish female leads, this is probably not the drama for you.
— Costumes/Makeup/Props —
The costumes are the typical “funeral” style you’d see in other xianxia dramas — white, white, and shades of white. There are quite an amount of details they tried to add to the costumes, but the overly bright and smooth filter effects managed to undo all the hard work the textile team put in. The makeup was a hot mess. Handsome men looked less handsome with overdone eyeshadow. Close-up shots would reveal unblended powder and face-neck skin tone differences. As for the sets and props, they would’ve looked better with less CGI applied, since the CGI looks quite subpar for an S tier drama.
【Conclusion】
It may sound as though I hate this drama, but as a novel fan, this is the only adaptation I could root for, and I wished for nothing but the best to happen to this drama. Sadly, it didn't deliver to even half of its potential. I suggest the director and writer to either quit the industry, or stop working on this genre. There might not be a clear distinction between right and wrong, good and evil, but there definitely is a clear cut between good and bad storytelling, and sadly this drama falls into the bad side. For those who are interested in the premise, I recommend you to read the original novel instead.
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The story is about comic book characters becoming self-aware, so right off the bat it reminded me of Extraordinary You and W: Two Worlds, but it still manages to be original. This drama occasionally pokes fun at C-drama cliches and never takes itself too seriously. In fact, the drama is an altered adaptation (kind of like a parody) of a very corny romance novel that actually exists in real life.
Story follows our FL who is a self-aware comic book actress. She has a lot of experience playing the female antagonist in different comics, and since she retains the memories of each comic, her actual personality is cunning, smart and anti-heroish. (Seldom do we see smart female leads in these kinds of Asian dramas, so this point alone is enough for this drama to score high!) She is tasked to play an antagonist again in a new comic, but when she is thrown into that world, a system error occurs and she ends up become the female lead instead, all the while retaining her self-awareness and villainous personality. Due to the mishap, the male lead (I denote him as OG-ML) which she is supposed to romance with is temporarily incapacitated, and she crosses paths with the male antagonist (ML in this drama) instead. Since both FL and ML have villainous personalities, they start playing 4-dimensional chess with each other and always correctly guess each other's intentions. Not only do they have chemistry, they're pretty much the same kind of person, like a match made in heaven. I really enjoyed their interactions. Feelings of love happen early on but naturally, unlike many dramas with rushed and half-baked romance lines. They even came up with a good excuse to add kissing scenes that can be explained by the plot.
In the later half of the drama is where the suspense kicks in and it kept me at the edge of my seat after every episode. I really could not predict what would happen next with all the plot twists. The drama ticks all the right boxes. And even though it's short, it never felt rushed or shallow. It probably told a better story than a lot of full length dramas.
I recommend this drama to anyone who likes fantasy romance. There's literally no reason not to try this - it's short so even if you end up not enjoying it, it's not a huge waste of time.
Positives:
- We get to see romance between two villainous characters, which is very uncommon
- We have a smart and cunning FL who can defend herself
- Plot makes fun of drama cliches (even FL points out how cheesy some of the plot is)
- Unpredictable twists and turns, engaging from start to finish
- Liu Xie Ning's acting really stands out
Negatives:
- Why in the world is this drama so short, when some way shxxier dramas get 30+ episodes?
- Characters are paper-thin, they have no backstory except the several lines of description given to them by the comic
- Certain plot points make no sense at all, such as the knife stabbing scenes in the drama
- The logic of the comic world is unclear and inconsistent, causing problems to arise and get resolved out of the blue without a convincing explanation. This is one of those dramas that are not to be taken too seriously.
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This isn’t your ordinary healing drama, it is a piece of sweet candy with a slice of life filling, wrapped in a layer of melodrama, wrapped in a comedy. The balance is perfect, and when you savor it, you feel the taste of life, where joy, elation, sorrow, bitterness, numbness and relief become one and shape who you are. And through experiencing those emotions, that is how our characters Woo Seo Ri and Gong Woo Jin mature from a mental age of 17 to 30 together. I appreciate Seo Ri’s optimistic approach towards life, and I’m sure that if I had experienced the same thing as she did, I wouldn’t have been able to smile in the same way. She is truly a strong person who knows how to appreciate the beauty of life as it is.
The side characters were also memorable and beautiful. The dorky and caring Yoo Chan, who introduced us the life motto “Don’t think, pill (feel)!”, Jennifer, the mysterious butler who is a living encyclopedia, and Deok Gu/Fang, the dog who is worthy of winning the Dog Oscar of the year. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to get over them, and I genuinely wish I had friends or a family like them.
Despite how emotionally beautiful the relationship and growth of the characters were, there were still some parts which could be played out in a better way. Since this was originally meant to be a 40 (20) episode drama but got shortened into a 32 (16) episode drama near the end, the pacing was off in the latter half of the plot. All the dramatic things happened at the same time, and secrets were revealed all at once. Originally this was acceptable, but given that the first half of the story was very slow-paced and stretched out, the sudden speed-up became unnatural and destroyed the momentum of the story. Nearing the end, things that were once suspenseful felt like they no longer mattered to the audience. I once considered that maybe the pacing would’ve been better if it had been 40 (20) episodes, but I felt like there was not enough material to last for that long either.
All in all, this is the kind of drama that you will enjoy if you are looking for a heartwarming story about people growing up together, approaching devastation with optimism and learning to face traumas head on, and supporting one another. This is not the sort of drama where you will be kept at the edge of your seat. This drama is purely character-driven with a little bit of plot to drive their change. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed every minute of it and I never felt bored (mind that I’m a person who dropped What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim, Weightlighting Fairy Kim Bok Joo due to boredom).
The OST is highly worth mentioning, especially the classical music they put in each episode to match the themes. It really pulls on my heartstrings and enhances the emotions of the characters.
I would definitely recommend this drama to anyone who likes lighthearted, slice of life comedies and sincere genuine relationships. "Monster Rookie" Yang Se Jong and Shin Hye Sun truly brought their characters to life, seeing how different they are compared to their previous roles. A must watch!
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A story about humans
When Jo In Sung received an invitation to star in this series, he thought it was "just another superhero story" and wanted to turn down the offer. But after he read the script, he was greatly impressed and joined the project right away. What some of us thought was going to be a generic Korean version of Avengers turned out to be so much more than that.Moving, at its very core, is a story about humans and humanity. It is also a story about parenting, brotherhood, teen angst, love, betrayal, finding who you are and where you're going, moral gray zones... everything that we as real people could relate to. That's how realistic the characters and their struggles were.
The thing I love most about this drama is that, although the story centers around superheroes, at the end of the day, they are "only human". Although the characters have extraordinary powers, they still struggle with life, relationships, moral choices, and will, if not more than the average person due to their awful circumstances. The worldview is grim and realistic, people are used as tools and must do things they don't want to do just to survive in this world, and every choice to deviate from that path takes courage and sacrifices. This is a prevalent theme to most characters in the drama, even some of the "antagonists". Every character has a well thought out backstory to them that tells you lessons about life, and that takes a lot of empathy from the writer. It is an absolutely phenomenal and unique take to the already saturated superhero genre.
I can't pinpoint who the main character in the story is because they are all main characters and share almost equal weight and screentime. The acting is top notch, especially for the older generation actors. They had to play themselves in the present time, as well as their younger counterparts. You could see them changing through time and hardships.
Plot-wise, the structure has a clarity to it - about 7 episodes are allocated to present time, which talks about the younger generation (high school romance, teen self-searching, generational conflict). 7+ other episodes are allocated to the past, where the parents take the spotlight and we are hit with very harsh realities (manipulation, betrayal, social stigma, child protection). Depending on taste, an audience might favor one of these segment over another, but they may also love both. The last few episodes are wrapped up with edge-of-your-seat action sequences by an ensemble of casts.
I highly recommend this drama for anyone who is still hesitating. It is one of the best dramas to come out this year, and one of the most unique K-dramas to come out in these 20 years. Don't miss it!
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The story is told in the form of chapters, with several mini stories about spirits subtly leading to one main plotline that is connected to the leads' past. This gave me Hotel del Luna and The Master's Sun vibes, but I liked the mini stories of Fairyland Lovers more as they weren't there just to serve the main plot, they were touching and moving in their own way. We get to understand the backstories of the side characters and see their growth and reappearance at the end of the series, which isn't something we get to see a lot.
For the main plot, there were a few noticeable plot holes that were never answered, and sometimes illogical things happened for the sake of plot conveniences. There was also an issue with the FL being too weak despite knowing martial arts and having hidden powers; I know that C-dramas are still on the traditional side when it comes to gender roles, but I hoped to see more from the FL. These flaws did bother me at times, but did not take away my overall enjoyment towards the series. I loved the quirky characters, humor, and the chemistry of the leads enough to make up for it. The cohabitation parts were my fav -- it was fun watching a bunch of characters from different walks of life living tgt, fighting and bickering on a daily basis, then ultimately becoming the best pals.
On top of that, Bai Qi was an absolute charm!! It was my first time watching Bai Yu act and he definitely excelled in talents and in the looks as well. His portrayal of Hei Qi was a major standout for me -- he was supposed to be evil but actually turned out to be cute and child-like, and it was fun seeing that side of Bai Qi. Bai Yu did an amazing job differentiating the two personas! I kinda wish they could be with the FL at the same time, but maybe I'm asking for too much... HEH...
Aside from the main couple's romance which I naturally adored, the side couple Xiao Xiao and Yang Jian was surprisingly cute as well. I regreted fast forwarding their parts thinking they weren't important and ended up having to go back and watch those parts again.
In fact, this is one of the few dramas that I would probably want to rewatch again. Highly recommended for supernatural romcom fans out there!
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Story
The synopsis on MDL says that four people enter a time loop, but in the drama, only two people actually enter the loop - the male and female lead. The female lead goes on a bus, the bus explodes and kills everyone in it, but the female lead wakes up and finds herself repeating the same bus ride over and over. She tries to tell the police about her experience, but no one believes her. Incidentally, she causes the guy sitting next to her on the bus, the male lead, to start experiencing the time loop with her. Together, they try to stop the explosion and save the people, while eventually getting to the bottom of it all. Of course, this takes many many tries, but each try gives them more information to work with. The story may not be new to many internationally audiences, especially if they have had exposure to movies of a similar nature like Source Code and Groundhog Day, but Reset manages to excel with an original take - the emotional factor. Many characters who I thought were just unimportant managed to have their own backstory and proper closure. For example, we got to understand more and connect with each character that was on that bus, who were from different walks of life and had their own life struggles and problems they were facing, some which led to them boarding this bus. Death was not just a number in this drama - it was the loss of people who had loved and were loved. And I think this drama portrays the sentiment behind this message very well.
Acting
The acting is also decent, the female lead is a fresh actress who hasn't had any experience portraying this type of character, but she managed to pull it off and also change people's impression of her. Her character has many humanistic flaws, very heroic, kind-hearted, but impulsive and easily judgmental towards others. Male lead is more logical, cautious, but at the same time a bit of a cowardice. It was good to see their development in the later stages. There were also a lot of seasoned actors who did amazing performances, most notably the main cop and the bomber.
Music
There's not much of music in this drama, but it isn't really needed. There are two OSTs with lyrics (?), and some background music to deliver the atmosphere of certain scenes. The music fitted the scenes well and did not break immersion.
Rewatch Value
I don't think this drama is meant to be rewatched, because a large part of the excitement comes from not knowing what will happen next. That being said, certain emotional scenes are probably worth going back to from time to time.
Overall, would definitely recommend this drama to everyone, it's a good drama even for people who are not normally into sci-fi or time-related genres.
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There were no boring scenes throughout the movie, everything was there for a reason, whether it is for character establishment, development or emotional impact. There were some quite emotional and thought-provoking moments that made my eyes water. Although the story had a dark (and sometimes preachy) undertone, it made good use of comedy from time to time for relief so that it doesn't get too overloading.
A downside is that the story felt "episodic", like many mini stories combined, and they could have ended the movie after any one of those mini stories without it feeling off. This caused the build-up to the final boss fight to lose its momentum a bit, and the story almost fell apart in the middle (luckily it didn't).
Acting (8.5/10)
The acting wasn't the main focus of the movie, but the priest completely stole the show. He was 100% a priest, from his talking mannerisms, to his expressions... even his face looked like a priest.
Park Seo Joon, on the other hand, did not really outperform himself in this. He was good as usual, but his character wasn't that different from what I normally see from him, hence I don't have much to say about him. Woo Do Hwan was charismatic as the dark priest because he had devilish vibes and a devilish pretty face to go along with it. Everyone else in the story didn't have much screentime (there were some surprise cameos tho).
Messages (7.5/10)
This movie touched on some really interesting religious themes but failed to develop them properly (maybe because they didn't want to come off as preachy). I related so much to the ML's religious struggles, and I often asked the same question as he did. The movie didn't really answer his question, but I came up with my own answer after watching it, so I guess the movie was still spiritually enlightening in some way despite its lukewarm reflections. I think the movie was meant to be an action film and the religious aspect was just a bonus for the sake of storytelling and some slight character development, but it really could have been so much more than that.
Overall, a decent commercial movie that is thoroughly entertaining, with a good mix of action, comedy, tearjerking moments and mild horror. Would recommend to anyone who wants to see a suspenseful action movie that has horror elements but is not too terrifying or gruesome to watch. This one is pretty much entry level horror that most people can bear with, so if the reason you don't want to watch this is because it's a horror movie, you could definitely reconsider watching it.
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I go back to December all the time
I saw many comments saying this is a boring drama and is really slow, so I was hesitant to start this. I'm SO glad I did (and this is coming from someone who almost never watches the slice of life genre). It was not boring at all. Although I understand why it is considered a slow burn, I found each episode zipping by, and was always eager to watch more to understand the characters. I think the characters being relatable, realistic people helped make it work.Story
The story is pretty straightforward - two people who are polar opposites fall in love after filming a documentary in high school, they break up really badly, meet again after 5 years and drama ensues. They realize how they have changed, and how they have remained the same, this time determined to make things right and to approach their relationship with more maturity. The way the story is told makes things intriguing because it's not presented in a chronological order. Rather, you will be jumping between their present and fragments of their past. The writer did an amazing job putting things in an order that adds more context and depth to the situation at hand. By telling you how the present is relevant to the past, you know why the characters behave in a certain way, and why some things are better the second time around.
Message
The structure of the story is like peeling an onion, each new episode unravels a new layer about the characters, until you start to empathize with each of them. It is a character-driven drama without a very clear plot, almost like you're living with the characters. You learn new lessons about life, about people. You might start with hating a certain character, and end feeling sorry for them after knowing their backstory. It provides perspective to the human condition, and there is always something to resonate with when it comes to that.
Romance
The drama is centered on romance, so it won't be a good drama if there's no good romance. And I would say, the couple is one of my favorite OTPs I've seen in a drama. There's something about them that just screams that they are meant to be, and you don't see that same spark when they are hanging out with other people. This is the "opposites attract" trope done right. The ML and FL complete each other, they help build each other's weaknesses with their own strengths. There is every reason they fell for each other, every reason they broke apart, and also every reason they wanted to be together again. Nothing felt forced. It was a natural relationship featuring two people with flaws, who sometimes behave like children although they are full grown adults, and who eventually grow strong enough to face their traumas to become better people who are capable of giving and receiving love.
Conclusion
I don't think this drama is overrated, as long as you go in knowing what it is. If you're looking for something exciting, fast-paced, keeps you at the edge of your seat, or some sort of bubbly, happy, feel-good romcom, this is not it. But if you like reading a book on a breezy afternoon weekend while taking a sip of hot chocolate, this is what the drama feels like.
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Story 10/10
The story mainly follows three couples and their hardships in the relationship. They are each facing different challenges and representing different types of relationships (marriage by contract, long-term relationship without marriage, and one-night-stand vs commitment). I won't go deep into the story because I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but basically they all struggle in understanding the meaning of love, marriage and opening up themselves to their partners. The story seems cliche and simple at first glance, but the way this drama presented the story is novel, fresh, creative, and so well-plotted out that it would feel like you are seeing this type of story for the first time. This drama is like a demonstration of how rom-coms can also be deep, through-provoking, and reflective like beautiful literature.
Character Depth 9/10
First of all, the characters were so realistically written; they had struggles that many people could relate to, and even though sometimes they made mistakes and did annoying things, I couldn't hate any of them because they were just like real people and had real emotions and reasons of why they came to be. Even though we might have different personalities as the characters, we would still understand their struggles and the fact that sometimes life does not go in the way we want it to. We can understand why Ji Ho, despite being an innocent and kind person, comes out stronger and more independent than her personality suggests. We understand why Se Hee always appears reserved and calculative, because he made grave mistakes in the past and he wants his life to be organized and in control, and most importantly he doesn't want to hurt anyone. Although he seems like a robot, he's actually a very kind and considerate person who always notices the feelings of the people around him. Just like how he striked a conversation with Ji Ho even though they were complete strangers, because he knew she needed someone by her side at that moment. He's not the type of person who would spare time and money unless he thinks it's worth it, and when he does, it's because he truly cares about that person. As for Won Seok and Ho Rang's relationship, I actually related to them the most. Even if you love a person very much, it doesn't mean the relationship will go smoothly, there may be timing gaps, differences in life goals, values, and communication barriers that end up inflicting great pain on you and your partner. And sometimes the pain of holding someone's hand is so overwhelming, that you can't help but want to let go, even if you can't live without that person. But it's always after separation, that you realize what is truly important to you.
The lines of this drama were well-written, every deep conversation touched my heart like poetry, and there were even some literary references that matched well with the story. It also made the characters more three-dimensional, especially Ji Ho since she's the narrator of the story. I relate with her a lot because I have a similar personality and I also like contemplating about things while daydreaming. Therefore I find her very suitable for the narrating role. The only downside is that since Ji Ho is like the sole narrator and you can only hear her heart most of the time, you might not know what the other characters are thinking.
Message 10/10
The drama also did an excellent job in prompting viewers the meaning of marriage. Why and when do people get married? The Ji Ho and Se Hee couple will make you ask--does love need to exist for marriage? Is marriage simply a commitment between two couples, or does it imply many duties and responsibilities that need to be upheld? And the Won Seok and Ho Rang couple will make you ask--is love solely enough for marriage? Or it is also about the right timing and conditions? Finally the Mr. Ma and Soo Ji couple will question whether it is because you need to depend on someone so you start a relationship, or because you love someone that you want to share your life with them even if you didn't have the need to. These are questions that the drama often touches on, and I believe there is no definite answer to these questions, because in the end everyone's situation is different. But my takeaway is that since marriage is commonly regarded as a "grave for love", meaning that love is sometimes destroyed in marriage, an important thing that people who are getting married for love should keep in mind of is to not let anything get in the way of their love relationship--not family rituals, not other people's expectations, not society's standards, and certainly not the system of marriage. In the end, we get married to be happy, and we shouldn't lose what we originally hoped for in the process.
Music 8/10
The OST does not have a "wow" effect but every song grows on me, and suits the scenes of the drama very much. They helped amplify the sentimental emotions in the drama and made the storytelling more effective. There was no song that I didn't like in the album.
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Story (9.5/10)
The story is beautiful, sad, bittersweet, and at times humorous. Character interactions are fun and witty, and it is easy to resonate with some characters or understand where they are coming from even if you do not agree with their actions. The main couple had overflowing chemistry and all their dialogues are quote-worthy. The plot development and pacing are mostly proportionate, and the story can be separated into several distinct arcs, each serving a good purpose to provide depth and weight to the characters. The only downside is that too much focus is given to Yunyu in the latter half of the story and less on the main couple, causing him to be the most established character throughout. Luckily, most of the important characters had backstories that explained their personalities and motives, and all the main characters either had major character development or were given a good closure by the end of the series.
Characters (10/10)
All the actors did an excellent job portraying their characters, except for the Empress whom I felt was too over the top in her facial expressions (especially her glaring eyes). Whenever the characters cried I also felt heartbroken with them. And since the drama spanned across quite a lot of episodes, I felt emotionally attached to the characters like they were my friends. As for the individual roles, Yunyu was exceptionally well-portrayed and the most 3-dimensional character I have ever seen in a c-drama. The casting of Luo Yun Xi was perfect, as he looked, sounded, and emoted exactly like how Yunyu should be. Luo Yun Xi is not acting as Yunyu, he IS Yunyu. Yang Zi also nailed the role of Jinmi, which if done wrong would have caused the character to become stupid or obnoxious. Deng Lun, in comparison, was more tame in his facial expressions, but his aura matched the character of Xufeng like no other person could. Other side characters like Yianyou, the Water God and the Moon God were also memorable and sparked my interest. The entire cast was very fitting for their roles, and there was no single character that was out of place.
Music (10/10)
The OST kept ringing in my ears even weeks after I finished the series. I now have to listen to the opening song several times a day to move on with my life, and whenever I do, scenes from the drama would flood into my mind and I feel an urge to re-watch the drama again.
Fun fact: The artist who sang the ending song, Sa Ding Ding, also played one of the characters in the drama. She was a funny character and did a good job considering that she is not a professional actress.
Conclusion
This drama is a must watch. Do not shy away due to the number of episodes. A good drama will make time zip by, and before you know it, you will be wishing it to never end.
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First of all, the scenes were so jumpy and incoherent that it was hard to follow what was going on and everything was a big mess. I have no idea what I even watched. The second half of the video was supposed to be fast paced and exciting but the editing was so choppy I spaced out and couldn't concentrate on the flow of the story. It was like a big chunk of the movie was cut because of overrun. The scenes had no linkage between them. One second you're running then the next second you're already driving and suddenly you're in a parking lot and then your car flies out of a window. And it all happens in like 10 seconds.
This is like a big show off of CGI and flying cars and random explosions with no purpose whatsoever. The dialogue was shallow and there was no character development and the chemistry was underdeveloped. There was a scene hinting the potential romance between the leads but then it was never mentioned again afterwards. It makes me wonder why that scene was even necessary.
The characters are pretty unique and charming, but they are wasted due to having no individual character development at all. The main focus of the plot was the rivalry between the ML and the antagonist, which was dragged on A LOT. Events happen one after another non-stop until you start wondering, "when is this movie going to end?"
The former part before the antagonist is revealed was ok, I liked the idea of fabricating scenes and controlling public opinion. But the latter part was like a wild horse on steroids. It was the first time I felt tired of watching an action film with tons of suspenseful moments. All this 100% CGI + shallow plot + 2D characters should stop cuz it's a bad representation of Korean cinema. They should make more films like The Handmaiden, A Taxi Driver and The Wailing.
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The story is about four main characters, each living in a routine life that is far from the childhood dreams they had sacrificed for reality. It hits so close to home, that no matter what walks of life we may be in, there will always be something that you can resonate with in this show. Whether it is not being able to advance in the workplace and earn just enough to build a love nest, having to give up a dream you were passionate about just so you can "grow up", or the pains of seeing a loved one pursue a dangerous job knowing they may get severely injured or even die. These characters each have their own unique struggles, and despite all the obstacles thrown at them they all end up deciding to break free and fight for their own way, disregarding those who look down on them and believing in themselves. And the brilliant message takeaway is, it's never too late to achieve your dreams. But you'll regret it if you never tried.
We all had a dream some time in our lives. It could be an impulse thought during your childhood, it could be something you were interested in but couldn't pursue because of financial reasons, family pressure, or it simply because it wouldn't earn you enough. Of course, in real life these constraints will not disappear out of the blue like in dramas, but it's the hope we hold on to and the opportunities we are willing to take that may give us unexpected returns.
The friendships, family love and coach-student bondings in this drama were also very sincere and down-to-earth. They yell at each other and fight every day, but you know how much they truly care about each other and the lengths they'd be willing to go to protect one another. Expressed not in words but in the form of hidden devotion, these are the kinds of relationships you don't realize you have until you need them.
I cried mostly between ep.12-16 where the tension kicked in and I was in for an emotional rollercoaster ride. The previous episodes were more slice of life and involved side stories and childhood flashbacks to lay the groundwork for the characters and bring them together. The last quarter of the show is really when the main story begins, and everything that was set up beforehand collapses as their individual worlds tumble down and become the driving force of their change.
My only complaint for this drama is that the ending was too rushed and some important character conflicts introduced only in the last few episodes could have been introduced earlier and spread out across more episodes. The first half of the plot was a bit too slow, but the second half was extremely fast and there were many things happening at the same time. That caused the ending to be a bit unconvincing. Aside from this, the show was an enjoyable watch and it fuelled the fire for my passion. I hope it also gives a positive impact on other viewers in the same way.
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