Cool Concept

I will admit I was drawn into this series because of Moonbin. I learned about Astro from Cha Eunwoo in his Kdramas years ago. But I also have a deep love for The Little Mermaid. I absolutely adore how this show adapted that story and expanded on it more.

Pros:
Really cool concept with the fairy tale.
Beautiful setting and costume design.
The aesthetic is clean and nice.
More seasoned actors shone despite the time and budget restraints.

Cons:
Audio was weird (I’m not sure if it’s where I watched it, but often the actors were whispering and/or the music was too loud.)
Concepts could be explored more. (I know it’s a shorter series, but if they wanted to make this a full 16 episode series it has the potential.)
Weak acting from Moonbin. (As the male lead I was expecting more and a stronger presence. Even with his character’s illness, he was very quiet and hard to remember)
Repetitive story (Main characters got drunk almost every episode. Ending is vague as well)

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Fantastic Adaptation

I absolutely adore this adaptation. The characters are perfectly portrayed in the film. I’ve reread the series and watched the movie so many times now. Due to time constraints, much of the angst in the plot is skipped over however it still maintains the flow in such a natural way. It’s a beautiful story. Overall I can’t recommend it enough.

My only big issue is with Ninako’s characterization. I’m not sure if it’s a cultural thing but when reading the manga, she seemed more energetic & silly. The movie portrays her as more reserved and sweet. I personally saw her as being someone neurodivergent in some capacity, but I’m not sure if characters like that are less likely to be seen in Japanese media, especially dramas. (I’ve seen “My Little Monster” as well, which was incredible, but obviously things are different when women are acting in ways similar to that) I know the countries & cultures are different but I was imaging Ninako to be more like Kim Bok Joo than a cute & kind protagonist. While I do adore those as well, it wasn’t what I was expecting from the movie.

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