Christina
United States
Since this was my first T-drama, I didn't know any of the actors from beforehand. To me, this drama was depended more on its story than on the acting. At times, I felt that Aaron Yan's acting was slightly emotionless. Despite this, I think that all of the actors involved did an decent job portraying their characters. I felt that with the actors, there was an authenticity in conveying emotion which I think sometimes is hard to do.
It is not one of those dramas where you have to watch the episodes in order to understand the story. That is because each episode deals with a character as a central focus. Keep in mind, there are a couple of episodes bind together due to the characters that are involved. To understand Du's (Death Girl) motive for everything, you have to watch in order.
I can see myself watching this drama in the future.
Even though i can't identity the music, it made the drama that much better. The music parallels to the emotion of the characters. Sometimes there are turns within the music that lead me on but did the opposite of my expectations. I loved how the natural sounds within the filming locale are used to the drama's advantage.
This drama puts a focus on real life issues. After watching each episode, I wanted to watch the next. It focuses on the "Why" the characters resort to drastic measures. The drama also points out how the characters' choices are up to them not fate, and how their choices have a domino effect on the other characters.
I really liked that near the end, they gave us the backstory to Du. However, in the story featuring Du Ji, I felt that there was something missing. I think it's because his story was left with a couple loose ends. I was pleasantly surprised by the ending of the drama. This is not because of what happens but more of how everything comes full circle.
All in all, I thought that this was a very good drama. All of the expectations that I had when I started this went out the window after the first episode. And this drama left me wanting more.
Was this review helpful to you?
The prime reason why I started this drama was because it dealt with computers and all things technological, which I love. Also, the drama doesn't try to insert romance between the characters. Romance elements are implied but it is more to provide comic relief than anything. What makes Ghost different than other dramas in the genre is that it essentially focuses on one case. Keep in mind that a few cases in the middle had little to do with the main case but these episodes give more insight to the characters and their lives. I'm going to be honest, I was expecting the ending to disappoint me but it did the exact opposite. In the last two episodes, everything comes back full circle and doesn't leave me feeling like something was left out. I really appreciate how flashbacks were used in the drama. They were not only used to refresh the mind about what already happened, they were also used to show things that the viewers have not witnessed at that point.
Typically, villains are the most hated characters of a drama. In this drama, I wanted to hate the villain but that was so hard to do. The way that the story comes about in revealing the villains motives for everything kind of had me feeling sympathetic.
The actors in this drama were really spot on in delivering and executing their characters. At first I was skeptical about So Ji Sub's acting because I have not seen anything with him before so I was expecting him to just be a pretty face with no substance. I am happy that I was wrong. SJS was able to pull off playing one person with two different sides. Uhm Ki Joon did a wonderful job playing Jo Hyun Min. Whenever his characters would get that sense of accomplishment it would just send shivers down my down.SJS and UKJ really fed off each others acting in heir scenes together which I loved. The supporting actors added to the synergy. Ghost unlike some other dramas utilizes its supporting characters to its full advantage.
The writers really know where they were going with this drama. When something is only referenced in simplicity in one episode, it comes back in another episode and is explained in full detail. One thing that I felt that the writers of this drama did wrong was deviating from the initial case and getting involved in other cases. However, this is only a minor technicality since it kept with the same flow of the other episodes.
The music in this drama, solidified my love for it. Sometimes music in a drama makes me wonder why it's there because it doesn't fit the flow of the drama. Ghost does the exact opposite, the music complements both the writing and the acting. The one dislike that I had with the music was that "Burn Out" song that plays at the end of the first few episodes annoyed me a little bit. However, it does appear near the couple of episodes near the end but more as motif when hacker mode is in play.
In future, I do see myself watching this drama again. Not all 20 episodes but a few episodes here and there since some episodes near the halfway point were boring to me.
Was this review helpful to you?
The age gap wasn't as much of a sticking point as I thought it would be. When it does come up, it's more so from keeping appearances, and personality standpoint.
I am pleased that there wasn't a love triangle in this drama, there is a love line but it doesn't go the malicious route that most love lines do.
This is the third drama that I've watched a drama with Seo In Guk (Master's Sun and Reply 1997 being the other two) and it was nice seeing him take on a dual role. He was able to bring the youthful/playful side as Min Suk, and the mysterious/mature within Hyung Suk's character. Even though I kinda wanted to see more of Hyung Sik's character, the bits that we did of home was enough for me taking into account the overall progression of the story.
I have never watched a drama with Lee Ha Na but she was a delight as Soo Young. She really nailed the quirky mannerisms of the character such as her posture, and facial expressions without me feeling that she was phoning it in. Also, kudos to the wardrobe department for making Soo Young for reflecting her personality with overdoing it.
Lee Soo Hyuk is the perfect brooding second male lead as Jin Woo.
Other than the scenes with Lee Ha Na and Seo In Guk, the scenes between Seo In Guk and Lee Soo Hyuk were a favorite of mine. Their playful banter kinda brings out the more genuine side to Jin Woo, where he doesn't have to be serious all the time.
Another thing that I loved was how we got to see the tertiary characters outside the realm of the primary/secondary characters. Jin Woo, Yoo Ah, Tae Suk & Duk Hwan, the Retail Team, and (most importantly) Grandpa. No one was put on the back burner for the sake of the main characters' story.
The chemistry between the two main characters was the driving force in my enjoyment of this drama. By the end, both characters helped bring out the best in each other. Min Suk sees Soo Young for what she is, but his love for her aids in her becoming a "cool, modern woman." While Soo Young helps Min Suk see that hockey isn't the end-and all be-all for him.
Although the last two episode felt a little rushed to me, there was an overall cuteness to it that I enjoyed and everything came full circle for Min Suk and Soo Young. There were subtle references that connected the finale with previous episodes. As an aside, Seo In Guk is a good kisser.
Jung In's "As Life Goes On" and Seo In Guk's "The Way to Come Back" are standout songs from the OST.
All in all, this was a light, fun drama that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Was this review helpful to you?
