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Completed
It's Okay, That's Love
3 people found this review helpful
by Sban
Feb 23, 2021
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 5
Overall 4.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 5.5

Ahead of its time

This is the drama that made me a fan of Gong Hyo Jin forever. She fills the screen with confidence and skill in how she portrays her character. And the writers were ahead of their time, telling a story that speaks to the importance of mental and psychological health with depth and understanding. I recently rewatched it to see if I still felt the same way, and I still do, sort of.

What I love about this drama is that all the characters are well developed and have meaningful interactions with each other. I also like that, even though some of the instigating events from the past are k-drama troupes, they are executed with minimal makjang. The past unravels in a way that makes sense and fuels satisfying dramatic revelations. The tears you shed are warranted and built up so that they really mean something to the viewer.

One of my favorite characters is played by Lee Kwang Soo. He brilliantly portrays a man with Tourettes. He gives his character dimension and heart.

There are a few things I noticed after re-watching that caused me to lower my rating. For one thing, Jae Yeol treats Hae Soo really poorly while pursuing her in their relationship. There is quite a bit of inappropriate physical contact that she does not consent to, as well as a huge lack of respect, which could be a trigger for some viewers. As a more mature person, it bothered me a lot more than the first time I watched it, which tells me how vulnerable younger people can be when they look to kdramas for models of romantic relationships. Also, there are too many repetitive hints and flashbacks to the past so by the time you get to a big revelation the impact is diminished. Lastly, the pacing is inconsistent. The drama spends a lot of time exploring the rocky relationship between the leads, and then suddenly busts out the dramatics really quickly about half way through and doesn't explore how the characters deal with the situation with as much depth as it could have.

In the end, I applaud the risks It's Okay That's Love took to address challenges of mental health, and the acting is superb. I highly dislike the inappropriate physical contact and mean interactions in the main couple's relationship though. Despite these inconsistencies, it was a leader in bringing important mental health issues to the drama world.

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Do You Like Brahms?
2 people found this review helpful
by Sban
Nov 3, 2021
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 6.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 7.0

Endless layers of constrained suffering

This is the drama to watch when you are in the mood to sit quietly and observe slight glances, small gestures, and single words that embody entire storms of meaning and emotion. It's the slowest, brightest burn I've ever watched.

Director Jo Young Min and screenwriter Ryu Bo Ri steer the ship upon which a close-knit group of characters is trapped beneath endless layers of complex external and internal struggles. Through the characters, we feel the heavy weight of people in authority, debts owed, family expectations, and circumstances beyond any one person's control. The result is relationships that are forever changed because of the pull of a single thread. Every character is suffering in silence that they cannot break through, which would normally make for annoying levels of angst. But the talented directing helps us to never lose empathy for anyone, even those that constantly hurt others. The consistency of direction is reflected in the clean palette of black, white, and cream that we see in the wardrobe and set backgrounds throughout the show.

As the struggling musician Song Ah, Park Eun Bin is masterful at revealing raw emotions underneath an overly disciplined exterior. As usual, her acting is deft, crisp, and poised, and she shows Song Ah's palpable suffocation and powerlessness alongside her quiet strength. Kim Min Jae as Joon Young the anguished pianist, embodies anxiety and struggle through every measured breath. As the two grow their awkward, overly considerate relationship, they share insightful thoughts with us as viewers, along with glimmers of sweet moments. Unfortunately, they don't share enough with each other, especially in the second half of the show. Their transformations are too understated and slow, and reveal too little too late, which cause the show to get stuck in circles, stumbling toward a rushed, unsatisfactory conclusion.

The show features high relational chemistry between all the characters, with subtext woven through every interaction. Part of what makes it amazing is the casting of the elegant Park Ji Hyun as our heroine's formidable rival, and Kim Sung Chul as her supportive but burdened lover. Every interaction between the four characters is multi-faceted. I appreciate that the most power-hungry manipulator is the lone man from the cultural agency, and that women take center stage throughout the show. And special mention goes to Seo Jung Yeon who plays Young In, manager of Kyung Hoo Cultural Center. Her subtle but pointed intelligence and care echo the maturity displayed by Song Ah. There is a special energy in their scenes together.

This is the only kdrama I've seen that features a love triangle that comes off as mature (even if it isn't), and not only that, but it's actually a double love triangle. I picture it as a bowtie with the leads caught in the middle. It's unusual to think that this would work, but it does, except for the way Jung Kyung's role as the angsty antagonist is overdone in the latter half. Like the leads, she misses out on key opportunities to show her personal growth.

Like many viewers, I wished for a more dynamic plot, and to see greater character transformations where the characters share deeper revelations with each other. However, the show delivers a highly intimate and engaging account of the daily lives of people suffering alone and together. Despite the issues near the end, the masterful acting and subtle detail make it a powerful experience.

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The Rational Life
2 people found this review helpful
by Sban
Jul 1, 2021
35 of 35 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 10
Rewatch Value 8.0

Slow burning idealist romance

I've watched many kdramas and this is the first cdrama that I've finished. The others I tried were full of overacting and cringey characters that I couldn't watch. I feel like cdrama fans must be much more critical than kdrama fans. The rating for this show is currently 7.9 while some sub-par kdramas are rated at 8.7 or higher.

This slow-burn of a romance drama balanced with corporate politics has a modern feel to it. Our heroine played by Qin Lan, is a near-perfect person. Intelligent, rational, thoughtful, and poised no matter what comes her way. Although it can be hard to buy in to such a perfect character, her very natural acting brings it to life and she's very enjoyable to watch as Shen Ruo Xin. Dylan Wang as Qi Xiao is also an idealist archetype, but with a earnest and straightforward nature, and he pulls it off too. Their romance is mature, sweet, and calm.

The balance between the main leads and the supporting characters is well done. They grow their interconnections in smooth ways, and you get to know them quite well. I really enjoyed the innocent sweet relationship between Su Yang and Si Jia. And I absolutely loved the energetic, confident, and fearless Zi Yan as Ruo Xin's best friend. The two had such great chemistry as BFFs.

Some might call this drama flat or boring. I think it could have used a few more dramatic plot challenges, and the ones it did have could have brought more variation to the tone. However, I feel the script was very well written, almost as if it was capturing real life interactions, without cutting any lines out. If you are in the mood for following interesting and well-written dialogue, you will enjoy this and it won't seem boring.

This drama is filled with idealist representations of people. The maturity in the relationships and the smooth way in which the characters interact with each other and form relationships that go beyond isolating the main leads from the supporting characters is well done. The production values are beautiful. And the calm, mature feel of the show makes it really enjoyable. I'm so glad I watched this and now I'm off to find more cdramas like it!

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Completed
Age of Youth Season 2
2 people found this review helpful
by Sban
Apr 27, 2021
14 of 14 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.5

Slowing down and getting deep

I recommend you watch season 1 before season 2 of this show. I read that season 2 included a new production team as well as a change of two of the lead cast members, which would have made for significant challenges. I feel the writers and producers handled these changes well with just a few tiny missteps in the process. After the overly silly first episode meant to explain the changes, the show found its footing again and it was fantastic from then on.

Like season 1, writer Park Yeon Sun continued to explore what is below the surface of our assumptions about others. This time, she showed us so much more of the acting talents and back story of our feisty journalist Ji Won, played brilliantly by Park Eun Bin. The writer made amazing strategic decisions starting in season 1 that carry over to influence season 2 in some genius ways and Park Eun Bin nailed every nuanced hint written into her character. She has an expert ability to relate her character to the other characters in complex ways. This is especially fun to watch when she shared scenes with her pseudo-boyfriend Sung Min, played with understated but overflowing concern by Son Seung Won. The way they played off each other and cared so much without being direct about it is masterful and beautiful.

As well as giving more screen time to the most talented actress on the cast, there were a few other big changes this season. One positive change was the pace slowed down and we got to see more dialogue and interaction between the five women which was a treat. It fit well with the progression of their growing friendship. I also enjoyed the introduction of the new housemate, Choi A Ra as Jo Eun, an "alternative" representation of femininity. Although I believe her history could have been written with more detail, I understand it was hard because she was a new cast member so we had to get to know her from the very beginning. Although it was fantastic that she ended up in a positive relationship, I was originally rooting for a lesbian couple when we were first introduced to her and her best friend. I guess my progressive hopes are ahead of current mainstream kdrama culture. Another shining change was the further development of eldest Sunbae character Jin Myung played by Han Ye Ri. After her harrowing experiences in the first season, she used her thoughtful empathetic leadership to support each of the women and help them through their tough times. Finally, I liked the progression of girly Ye Eun played by Han Seung Yeon. I applaud including the lasting effects of trauma in her storyline and the fact that it showed in a realistic way that it changed her permanently. I also enjoyed the addition of her growing relationship with neurodiverse engineer Ho Chang played by Lee Yoo Jin, although for me a friendship rather than a coupleship would have fit better.

One change that didn't work so well for me was the re-casting of Ji Woo as shy, young Eun Jae. Although the character grew a lot more confident over the course of season 1, the new actress portrayed what seemed like a completely different character, quirky and curt instead of deliberate and quietly deep. It just didn't click with me. However, her storyline is a common consideration for women and an important one to feature.

Overall, both season 1 and 2 showed us great depth of character and relationships in a way that doesn't tie everything up with a perfect bow. The show asks us to focus on what's beneath the surface in our assumptions about people. And it's a treat to watch Park Eun Bin's acting talent pull the whole cast together.

Finally, just a reminder to watch all the epilogues that run after the end credits during this season. They add a lot to the story, *hint* *hint*.

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The World of the Married
2 people found this review helpful
by Sban
Feb 24, 2021
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 6.5
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 5.5
Rewatch Value 3.0
This review may contain spoilers

Consequences of obsession

If you like exploring the darkest depths of twisted human relationships, this is a great story to get absorbed into. Kim Hee Ae and Park Hae Joon play their roles as a couple with a son whose marriage goes wrong in the most wrong ways possible. Both actors are stellar, playing their obsessive, anxious characters masterfully, as they dig themselves deeper into darkness and extreme obsession. I love that this show featured a cast of older actors (they really aren't that old) in a sea of shiny young stars. We need more stories about older people.

Here's the thing though. There is absolutely zero redemption in this story. I was hooked, watching each episode, wanting to know what happens next as the plot twists and turns. And I wanted to root for at least one character, but in the end, there was no one to hang on to. I couldn't even root for Joon Young, the couple's innocent son, because he wasn't written with enough depth and didn't quite have enough screen time. This makes the show extremely depressing to the point of just being absurd. In our current COVID world, I prefer something with a touch of redemption. And the way in which this story played out, there were glimmers of it but they were all crushed by the end.

So it's a hard show to rate. The acting is fantastic and the dialogue is fine, but the way it makes you feel as a viewer leaves a lot to be desired. I wish I could say I am supremely impressed by the skill it took to tell such a twisted story that keeps on twisting your guts, or how the dialogue between the characters provided so much insight into the darkness of the human soul. Instead, I walk away from this thinking it was unsatisfying and pretty much a waste of time. Half way through, you realize the show will just keep dishing out the same types of elements for the rest of the ride, and no matter how extreme the elements are, there simply is no point to any of it. You stop caring about the characters because they don't deserve your care. All in all, I strongly believe this would have worked much better as a movie where elements left off screen and unsaid can be maximized instead of dragging it all out in repetitive ways.

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The Master's Sun
2 people found this review helpful
by Sban
Feb 23, 2021
17 of 17 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 10
Rewatch Value 6.5
This review may contain spoilers

Could have been amazing

This drama was a fun combination of thriller/ghost horror and poor gal gets saved by rich, mean guy. Gong Hyo Jin did a fantastic job bringing Tae Gong Shil's insecurities and fears to life while standing up for herself when people treated her poorly. I enjoyed the way in which she was learning to live with ghosts and strive make her life better.

However (and I know this will be an unpopular opinion), I felt So Ji Sub's performance lacked depth and dimension. He seemed to be the same person throughout the drama, never getting to actually show his transformation.

There is a major flaw in this drama that happens near the end. The characters act completely out of the norm of what you have seen throughout the show. This threw me off. Furthermore, the dramatic revelation and story about Joong Won's deceased lover was told in a sloppy and confusing way, and I barely cared about it. Those flaws are things I cannot overlook. The time used around these parts could have been executed differently in a way that grew the relationship between the main leads, but it didn't seem to do that.

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Completed
Hi Bye, Mama!
3 people found this review helpful
by Sban
Mar 23, 2021
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 4.0
Story 3.5
Acting/Cast 6.5
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 1.0

Waste of a good premise

There was so much potential here in the form of a dead mother who comes back to look after her family and friends, and the meaning she finds and helps to bring back to the lives of the living. However, the story just went nowhere and some of the characters who could have helped it along were either forgotten after their intro, or just spent the show wandering around without purpose.

Kim Tae Hee as our main lead Cha Yu Ri does a great job portraying a grieving mom who gets the chance to return to the land of the living. She is energetic and lovely in this role. The cute little Seo Woo Jin who plays her daughter Seo Woo is just the most adorable little thing too. And Shin Dong Mi is brilliant as Yu Ri's best gal friend Hyun Jung, who supports her through it all. She was actually the best part of the show. Her support and longing for her friend was so palpable.

The show could have been fantastic had the side stories of the ghosts been fleshed out. A few of them ask Yu Ri to help them with unfinished business. These opportunities could have pushed the show to new levels. Instead, their stories are introduced and then promptly forgotten. I was also hoping the fun and spirited shaman played by Yoon Sa Bong would have a real part of the story as well. Unfortunately her potential was lost too. Furthermore, important living characters just kind of wander around. Yu Ri's husband played by Lee Kyu Hyung, doesn't do much to actually show his depression or thoughts. It's a missed opportunity. And his new wife played by the gorgeous Go Bo Gyeol also doesn't do much, but has some time to express herself later in the show.

With the mess of a story and frustrating lack of follow through, you'd think the show would have little impact on the viewer. Fortunately, it's still able to tug some heartstrings, mostly through monologues and flashbacks about Yu Ri's life and family so it's a decent cry if you're looking for one (if you can get over the other frustrations).

Unfortunately, this show just isn't worth the time.

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Completed
Age of Youth
1 people found this review helpful
by Sban
Apr 27, 2021
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.5

All that is left unsaid

If you enjoy watching well developed characters show as much through what they don't do and say as what they do, you will enjoy this show. Here, writer Park Yeon Sun allows silence and subtext to do the heavy lifting, and challenges us to understand what's beneath the surface. It asks us to consider whether our assumptions about people's motivations are correct when we base them only on what we have seen when we don't know someone's inner thoughts or history.

Half way through this drama, I realized that the writer made many intentional decisions that paid off well. Despite a few inconsistencies, the strategy and planning was evident as you continue watching. This was far more dramatic than the posters indicate, with lots of depth of acting talent. I appreciate the focus on females as well as the very important challenges they bring forward, such as sex, personal trauma, workplace abuse, and relationship abuse. I also liked the way the writer handled the relationships between the ensemble. Like real life, housemates don't have to be close friends or share all their deepest secrets with one another. The five women actually share far more dialogue with people outside the house than they do with each other. This allows us to get to know them as individuals with their own storylines, even if, at times, it is frustrating that they share so little with each other. I will note that there is a change of pace in season 2 that allows us to see more dialogue between the characters now that we know them, which was another great intentional choice.

The actors were fantastic. There are a number of stand-outs for me. Han Ye Ri as the eldest woman, Jin Myung was one of them. She portrayed her anguish and depression about her family and workplace challenges in a melodramatic way without overdoing it or manipulating our heartstrings. I also liked Ryu Hwa Young as the sassy, sexy and strong Yi Na dealing with her personal childhood demons and her various relationships with men. Her portrayal was mature and thoughtful. Finally, I rarely enjoy crazy, silly characters, but Park Eun Bin as our feisty journalism student Ji Won was spot on. She played her part with such depth, which allowed her character to bring the entire ensemble's stories together and connect them all. Even though her own story took a back seat until season 2, the time she spent on screen was genius and delightful. She has so much talent!

There were a couple holes in the story, and the pace in season 1 seemed like it was racing toward a finish line. This kept things very exciting and surprisingly, it never lost depth, but some of the dramatics never gave us the chance to breathe. However I did enjoy how the actors broke the fourth wall in the fun little epilogues that play after the final credits of various episodes.

To sum up, this was a surprisingly strategic show with a lot of pre-planning that pays off later. The characters and actors brought tons of depth to the story, and it was entertaining as well as heartfelt. It would be a fantastic re-watch if you enjoy looking for hints and figuring out all the little details the writers included across both seasons.

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Completed
Dear My Friends
1 people found this review helpful
by Sban
Mar 29, 2021
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.5
Rewatch Value 9.0

Wisdom personified

This masterpiece by writer Noh Hee Kung is a heart wrenching and hopeful look at moments of multilayered joy, tragedy, love, regret, and life through the eyes of a young woman as she captures the experiences of a group of elderly friends.

Don't be fooled by the cutesy poster for this drama. It is not roses and nostalgia. You cannot watch this to fawn over "cute old people" as objects that are used to bring a smile. Instead, you will be absorbed into a cascade of real life struggles, emotions, and deep relationships spanning decades and generations. I strongly believe this show should actually come with a trigger warning. The hardships depicted include family violence, suicide, emotional abuse, intergenerational trauma, and plenty of tragedy. It looks at how the past connects to the present and the future, and shapes the way we move in the world. When life gets heavy, you draw upon your personal experiences, and try to overcome obstacles any way you can. And you help your friends because you understand them the way no one else does. The show captures layered lifetimes of memories, relationships, and moments, as the cast bring their characters to life expertly. The actors deliver quality like no ensemble I have ever seen. When you reflect on the superb performances, it becomes clear that hundreds of years of life experience (not to mention acting talent) comes together to leave you breathless and in awe.

The script is phenomenal. The direction by Hong Jong Chan is confident and classy. The actors are incredible, nuanced, and detailed. Everything in this show exudes experience as it tells a both tragic and beautiful story.

The cast is the obvious highlight, including: Kim Hye Ja as the dazed Hee Ja, Na Moon Hee as the determined and kind Jung Ah, Youn Yuh Jung as the always-learning spinster Choong Nam, Park Won Sook as the kind-all-over Young Won, Go Doo Shim as the sassy business woman Nan Hee, and Kim Young Ok as Nan Hee's mother who understands so much more than she lets on. These women embody resilience and sisterhood in the most wise and willing ways. They accept and understand each other with the subtlety and depth that only decades-long relationships can foster. Then there are the men: Shin Goo as Suk Gyun, Jung Ah's ignorant husband, and Joo Hyun as Sung Jae, the learned retired lawyer. The men are smaller players in the story, supporting the women as they shine.

The supporting cast is just as amazing. I think their performances are a reflection of the show's writing and direction. My favorites include Yeom Hye Ran as Jung Ah's adopted daughter, Lee Kwang Soo as Hee Ja's son, and Jang Hyun Sung as the handsome guitar man. They occupy only a little screen time and yet they have dimension and help to show us so much about the main group of women.

Finally, Go Hyun Jung as Park Won, the young woman who tells the story, is just fantastic. She exudes naïve passion, love, and longing as she observes and participates as both a part of the group and an outsider. Her character experiences rich moments of understanding as she plays her part on the borrowed wisdom of her elders.

I only have two small complaints. First, the younger people in the story needed more dimension. They get a big chance to reflect on their relationships with their parents when Park Won invites them to talk about it for her book but they don't use it. Secondly, the very last bit of the show lost some steam. Maybe it's because it's impossible to sum up the loose ends in 9 interconnected lifetimes.

If you are looking for something with depth that just keeps digging deeper, and an appreciation for what life experience and wisdom can teach us, this is the show for you. It is anything but boring and cutesy. It is everything you want to watch when you need a break from unbelievable teenage love triangles and fantasy. You don't swoon over this one; you grow.

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Completed
The Greatest Love
1 people found this review helpful
by Sban
Feb 23, 2021
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 8.0

Very entertaining

This is a pretty entertaining drama. It's fantastic that Gong Hyo Jin and Cha Seung Won carried such chemistry despite their age difference. It shows how Gong Hyo Jin's skills and talents make her such a star, especially because her performance had to match the charisma and energy displayed by her co-star.

The story shows with just enough depth, how Ae Jung came to be in her current sad state as a B-list celebrity trying to hang on in a crushing business. And it shows the ins and outs of that business and pressure that the celebrities are under to never make a misstep and always look like they are doing well. I especially enjoyed the performance by Choi Hwa Jung as Dok Go Jin's scheming but still sensible manager.

As the story unfolds, we are treated to some fun and interesting interactions and dialogue between Go Jin and Ae Jung, and you get to see how their relationship unfolds. This is an older drama so there are more circumstantial misunderstandings than I prefer, but I forgive them because of the great story and acting. One thing I didn't enjoy as much was the second couple. They tried their best, but they didn't quite come to life for me.

In the end, this is a great light and generally fluffy rom-com showcasing the talents of Gong Hyo Jin and Cha Seung Won.

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When My Love Blooms
1 people found this review helpful
by Sban
Feb 23, 2021
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 5.5
Story 6.5
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 10
Rewatch Value 3.5

Shiny young actors steal the show

The young actors Jeon So Nee and Park Jin Young are spot on in this slow burn of a melodrama. They are spunky and passionate and are given so much screen time, which keeps the show afloat. They are a joy to watch with their energy and spark. They tell a lot of the story through rich flashbacks.

However, the drama is brought down by the adult actors in the present day. Instead of continuing the story and growing together once again, they spend a lot of time moping and looking forlorn which makes it boring and monotone. They don't show enough of a range of emotion in the present, even when things get really difficult. It's as if the melodramatic parts were unnecessarily toned down.

Despite the contrast between the way the past is painted and present is portrayed, the blanket of nostalgia ties everything together tightly. I'm a bit surprised at how enjoyable this was, even with some repetitive plot items in the present, and that spark that the adult leads just didn't have.

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Pinocchio
1 people found this review helpful
by Sban
Feb 23, 2021
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 9.5

Drama done right

This is one of my favorite dramas. I like melodrama but it's hard to mix in and balance it in a believable and consistent way. This drama does it really well. It also addresses the importance of integrity in journalism, which is an important topic. I also love that, for once, a male shows lots of emotion and accepts help and support just as much as females do, if not more. In fact, Ha Myung is the first character to shed tears in this drama and it's refreshing.

I know many people can't get past one particular premise in the main relationship, but I feel as an almost-classic kdrama, I can accept this mechanic and enjoy the ride. And the fact that the show is so well done with great acting and directing makes it easy to accept.

The drama does a great job building out the background and history of the characters and how they became who they are. I feel Lee Jong Suk and Park Shin Hye had great chemistry together. They are both gifted actors and you really believe the developing relationship between them.

I appreciate that the characters are pretty intelligent. They make mistakes that anyone could in their circumstance, and they don't do dumb things. It features an excellent supporting cast with great chemistry between them all. I especially liked Min Sung Wook as a reporter who learns to be understanding. The pace is really well done, always exciting but still offering depth in terms of character development and relationship exploration.

This is a great drama to rewatch. You fall in love with the great relationships all over again.

And one last thought: If you liked While You Were Sleeping, I would suggest that this drama has the same style and feeling but was executed in a much more consistent and masterful way. The acting, relationship development, and pacing are much better here.

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While You Were Sleeping
2 people found this review helpful
by Sban
Feb 23, 2021
32 of 32 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 6.5
Story 6.5
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 10
Rewatch Value 5.0

Inconsistent and disappointing

If you haven't watched Pinocchio, you really should instead of watching this drama. It's written by the same writer and executed in the same style and feel, but without the messy acting and plot holes.

I was expecting a lot more from this, considering the top quality writer and a cast that includes Lee Jong Suk and Jung Hae In. However, the directing and acting was really off, especially from Bae Suzy. Her performance does get better after the first few episodes, but I don't care enough about her character to get invested in it or the storyline.

One performance I really liked was by Kim Won Hae, who plays the investigator in a way that is truthful to what he knows. He was fantastic. On the other hand, our villain Yu Beom falls pretty flat. I don't fault Lee Sang Yeob for his performance. I believe it's weak writing that contributes to this issue. There are also a ton of plot holes and side stories that don't contribute like they should to the development of the characters and the plot.

Overall, it was disappointing.

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Hospital Playlist
2 people found this review helpful
by Sban
Feb 23, 2021
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

Mature, skillful writing, direction, and acting that inspires

This is my current all-time favorite drama. Although it's a medical drama, it resists going down the melodramatic path and really strives for a sense of hope. It gives us a glimpse into the lives and meaningful friendships and relationships between very smart professionals. You get to know every character, including all the supporting cast, in amazing depth. It's light in the sense that you're not crying over dead people every moment and it isn't plot driven so some would say the pace is slow, but it's so very deep around the characters' love and support of each other that you are never bored. All the characters are written in a mature way without silly angsty features, which is refreshing. There is magic in every interaction and conversation. And there's an overlay of confidence, humbleness, and making good, moral decisions so the entire show radiates hope and inspiration that you feel like striving to emulate when you watch it.

If you are looking for mature stories, amazing writing, and great acting, this is it. This is the ONLY drama I've rewatched more than twice, and without skipping ANY scenes. It's. That. Good.

The only thing I would have liked to change would be at least one more female in the main cast. It does pretty much balance out because there are a couple strong female supporting characters but having only 1 main female lead out of 5 is disappointing.

And if you've seen this show, you should check out the many behind the scenes videos online. You gain so much respect knowing how they made the show, how skilled the director is, and all the skills the actors had to learn.

In a COVID world where hope is sorely needed, I can't wait for the next season of inspirational relationships! I have a feeling it will take a very long time for another show to take the place of HP as my most favorite show ever.

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Goblin
1 people found this review helpful
by Sban
Feb 24, 2021
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 10
Rewatch Value 7.0
This review may contain spoilers

Bromance takes it all

I wholeheartedly understand why people love this drama so much. It has many flaws, but it's still a ton of fun. In particular, the music of the main theme stays with you forever and adds a special element to the show that I haven't noticed in any show since.

Everyone has written about the unstoppable bromance between Gong Yoo's Kim Shin, the tormented god, and Lee Dong Wook's Grim Reaper. And if you watch any behind the scenes footage of the show, you can see why. They were just having the time of their lives working together.

Unfortunately, there are a couple big flaws that prevent this show from being close to perfect. For one thing, we learn very little about our brave heroine Eun Tak, which diminishes our stake in her story. We don't get to see much of her past or her thoughts about the state of her life or the relationships she has with friends or family. And now that I think about it, I can't name any character that we get to truly know in depth. A few well placed monologues would have been useful to this end. I wanted to know about each character's history and past struggles, and how they feel now. Second, the main villain in the show is pretty absent until the very end. There was so much potential around exploring the heart of the issues faced by Eun Tak and Kim Shin and how they are trying to protect each other and deal with their own issues, but it wasn't harnessed.

One last thing I enjoyed was the filming in Quebec. I'm a Canadian and that was quite a surprising treat to behold!

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