Soula
Lovely romance that keeps you smiling through to the epilogue!
Live Up To Your Name has been on my PTW on Netflix for wayyyy too long XD. I'm not sure why I didn't watch it sooner, but after finishing it, I'm mad at my past-self for not watching it sooner! Haha! It *did* take between 4-6 episodes for me to get really invested in the story, but after that, I was thoroughly hooked!Being a daughter of immigrants, the way the MMC, Heo Im, struggled with the modern day culture and language made me giggle often as I could easily identify with the struggles he encountered while adjusted to the foreign modern world! His many moments of adjustment while in the modern world sincerely helped maintain a balanced tone and mood - it never got too dark or sad!
The comedy, time spent in each world, practiced medicine, and romance are really well balanced throughout this entire drama, even weaving some historical facts in there to give context. The ending was very good too, which I was happy about (I was worried there for a second, "I thought this was a happy ending!" 'XD).
I really liked that they go back and forth between worlds - the time spent in the past was personally very meaningful to me, and especially humbling to the FMC, Yeon Kyung.
My favorite arc of the story was when interacting with the Japanese General, General Sayaka, especially when saving the children!
Live Up To Your Name is a lovely romance - I would 100% recommend it! The main actors, Kim Nam Gil and Kim Ah Joong have great chemistry, which makes their romance and tension all the spicier! It's got great comedy, not bogged down by too much corporate business politics, and a smashing OST (the instrumentals especially are fantastic - "Fate" by Yoo Jonghyun is my favorite!).
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This review may contain spoilers
7.75 Stars...so close to 8 Stars!
There are so many mixed reviews and opinions of The Legend of Xiao Chuo. Despite all of the mixed reviews (there are some seriously strong *negative* reviews/comments), I decided to give this one a shot - there was something about the OST MVs that just had me tantalized - I had to know the whole story behind those snapshots in the MVs in detail. And while The Legend of Xiao Chuo isn't 100% perfect, I found that I was thinking about it when I went to bed and when I woke up and I wasn't bored while watching the 48, 45 minute episodes!I remember when I was a child that I would wish that TV shows would just skip to the important stuff so we would fast-forward the boring stuff and get to the stuff that matters. Well, The Legend of Xiao Chuo does just this! It was odd, I will admit, because most dramas (excluding family and longer, war-themed dramas) only span a couple months, tops. TLOXC really covers 20+ years in pretty decent detail with a good epilogue in the final episode, documenting the final chapter (deaths) of our MCs. So, yes, odd that the pacing of this drama utilized time-jumps often, but I appreciated that the plot wasn't dragged out or bored with trivial details. Which brings me to my next point...
TLOXC really isn't a *romantic* romance. Yes, the story starts out with sweet(-ish) romances, but by the time episode 25 rolls around, the story is all about politics. Plain and simple. It's about duty, responsibility, conflicts, alliances. I personally found it riveting and couldn't stop watching. It was like watching juicy gossip acted out. Now, I grew up in a Puerto Rican household, so I am no stranger to *chisme* or telenovelas, so to clarify: it's not on *that* level of drama and politics, but I found it interesting to watch an ancient culture play out with the beautiful costumes and decent acting (it was way more engaging and enjoyable than watching a documentary, that is!).
Anyways, I say all this to warn: if you are considering TLOXC because of the romance, you will likely find yourself bored and/or infuriated by the way our MCs are broken apart. It is truly heartbreaking...
Which leads into my next point: There is nothing wrong with being infuriated on behalf of people (*ahem* characters) who are slighted or wronged. BUT, it is not appropriate to apply your own ideals from the society we currently live in today with our current privileges (especially when looking at women's status) to that of ancient times. Don't get me wrong - some of the events that take place in the story are absolutely wrong! BUT, you cannot fault the storywriters for writing the story "wrong" when in reality, that *is* reality from those times.
For example, aside from the obvious splitting up of Yanyan and Han Derang, Mingyi falls in-love near the end of his life AND GETS TO BE HAPPY WITH HER. That really upset me considering what he did to his brother-like-bestfriend. BUT, I had to keep reminding myself that that's how it was in those days - emperor's could be with whomever they wanted, whenever they wanted because *they were* the law (and men, but I digress LOL).
It's very sobering, but also humbling to come to this realization. Once I had this conversation with myself, I was able to move past the tragedies our MCs endured to appreciate the story being told and reflect on the privileges and safeties we are afforded in our modern society.
Now to move onto the characters:
While Yanyan and Han Derang were the main romantic pairing in TLOXC whom I was happy for in the end, my favorite pairing was actually Hunian and Yansage. Hunian was actually my favorite character (aside from Han Derang's amazing mother - she called it how it was and I loved every second of it!). Hunian was someone I could identify with in the sense that being the eldest sibling, you have this sense of responsibility to your parents, to your siblings, to your "clan", that outweighs your own desires and comforts. And as most eldest siblings will likely also identify with, Hunian did not begrudge her place and role in her family. She accepted her responsibility and got through it. Her relationship with Yansage was the most interesting and intriguing dynamic in the entire drama for me. Yansage was my favorite antagonist in the entire drama because he was so multilayered! He wasn't strictly black-and-white; he adored Hunian and was truly in agony when they lost their baby and the risk to Hunian's life (the only true moment of despair we ever really see in Yansage), but he was also extremely intelligent and always scheming for the throne. His character was so complex. I truly could not get enough of Hunian and Yansage as a couple. Even after reading spoilers, I HAD to see how things played out for myself.
What made me sad was the conclusion to Hunian in the end of the drama. So many horrible things happened to Hunian throughout the entire drama, but she always got herself back up, dusted herself off, and kept going. I was so happy that even after Yansage's death (and other tragedies in the plot) that Hunian was able to finally find happiness. But it was short-lived. Her ending just leaves me so sad for her. She is bitter and angry and it hurts to see her that way. I wish, as the viewer who adored her character, that Hunian had had a truly happy ending.
I have read a lot of hate against Xiyin and Wuguli. While they were my least favorite couple in the entire drama, they went well together. The character progression for both Xiyin and Wuguli are logical, even if it *is* distasteful for us viewers.
Some things that really stood out to me that I appreciated:
--I really liked how the death scenes were captured. The acting, music, angles, and lines were impactful, specifically in regard to Yansage's and Xiyin's deaths. The way these death scenes were captured and executed really elevated the entire moment.
--I really appreciated the way the final conversation was handled between Mingyi, Yanyan, their eldest son (the future emperor), and Han Derang. It settled something in my heart. Even though I had logically come to terms with Mingyi's treachery against Yanyan and Han Derang nearly 20 years prior, Mingyi acknowledging that he betrayed their brotherhood and trust settled me. The way he rested their hands on top of each other in his final breathes was poetic irony and foreshadowing. Well done!
--I also LOVED that Mingyi's Minor Consort was just the woman he loved with not extra dramatics or malicious intents to distract or spoil the plot. That was so very refreshing!
--Additionally, on the same note, I was super worried that Mingyi's younger (biological) brother would try to plot against his own brother, which would have been a tough pill to swallow, but again, refreshing - HE DOESN'T! He actually sincerely protects Mingyi in the end! A much welcomed deviation from expected tropes.
--I loved how Yanyan's son, the new emperor, and Han Derang's mother both encouraged Yanyan and Han Derang, respectively, to satisfy their hearts and be with their chosen love after they have been widowed. There was something in the dynamics between mother and son in those conversations that just made my heart mush.
Acting:
Meh. It wasn't bad acting, but....don't hate me....but I just don't feel that Chinese acting compares to Korean actors. I think it might have something to do with the voiceovers (dubbing) that throws it off for me. The dubbing wasn't terribly distracting, which is a win! And the acting was good for a majority of the drama. Really, you just need to get to know the characters to get invested to look past the awkward misalignment of sound vs. lip movement. Trust me, the acting was decent enough for me to stick with the entire drama - the story really makes up for it by keeping you interested the whole time!
So - after finishing all 48 episodes, overall, I am left feeling kind of crestfallen, but satisfied at the same time. TLOXC was just one of those dramas I had to watch for myself, regardless of the negative feedback I was reading. It really wasn't anywhere nearly as bad as many negative comments portray it. It was actually quite good and I think deserves some more recognition as a *historical* story. I am glad to have watched it to be able to witness the above mentioned wins with this drama. I wouldn't recommend TLOXC, but I would definitely defend it!
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Once back in the real-world, things move at a good pace. I adored how Xiao'en stayed loyal and true to Situ Aoran. That was really important to me. He Tianxing and Situ Aoran are NOT the same person - the fact that this is recognized and further acknowledged (as heartbreaking as it was) by Xiao'en is a very powerful testament of her love. The way Xiao'en's romance was resolved was predictable, but satisfactory. And the cinematography was on point! The usage of flashback scenes to build the reunion between Situ Aoran and Zheng Xiao'en gave me goosebumps. It was also an excellent recap of the entire drama, with this being the conclusion of the drama. Excellent work in editing those scenes and overlaying them with the best soundtrack to elicit emotion!
The conclusion for all of the side characters was also satisfactory. The bad guys weren't so black and white as they appeared in the beginning....you understand what fueled their poor choices and even feel pretty bad for them. Their stories are neatly concluded with them facing the consequences to their decisions and actions. Their growth as individuals is well demonstrated - I have no doubt that after they face the consequences, they will be further changed individuals, for the positive.
The acting of the selected cast was good! Not the best acting I've seen, but convincing and not amateurish at all.
I probably won't rewatch this whole drama, but I'll likely rewatch scenes because they were either steamy or adorable. :D
Overall, if you're new to dramas, this will likely be an easy one to get into as it a relatively light, romantic story with great pacing!
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This review may contain spoilers
Do you love the shell or the mind? My answer by the end...Love. Is. Love.
Shin Hye Sun is what drew me into watching this drama in the first place - I've loved her in everything I've seen her in. The beginning of Mr. Queen was pretty rough for me. The first couple of episodes were sincerely awkward and over-the-top silly to watch. I've watched a number of historicals, most of which I enjoyed, and so watching this felt like satire. But slowly (VERY slowly), I came to appreciate the beauty in this story; it took until about half way through the drama for me to no longer feel bored and start genuinely enjoying the story and character dynamics.Shin Hye Sun really is what carries this drama. Her acting is impeccable - I could feel all her emotion in just her facial expressions. And the way she impersonates a man was spot-on!
Kim Jung Hyun unfortunately just didn't do it for me. I've never really had an opinion about him either way in all the dramas I've seen him in (so far, I've liked him best as Alberto in Crash Landing On You), but in this one, I just don't think he was the right fit. He doesn't have the presence for the type of character he was trying to embody, which was a pity. But by the end of the drama, I had simply come to terms with his lacking qualities in portraying his character and just enjoyed the drama for what it was.
Plot-wise, I found the second half of the drama much more interesting and entertaining to watch than the first half (which, honestly, was terribly boring for me). And I'll be completely honest: It took a little while, but I really came to terms with the odd romantic dynamic between the King and Jang Bong Hwan...and liked it and rooted for them!
Mr. Queen sincerely challenged the way I perceive romantic love; it was something I had to acknowledge about myself and then push past the initial discomfort so I could see the beauty of this love. The portrayal and development of their romance was really so well done on the writer's part, where it had nothing to do with gender, that I couldn't deny their love. Do you simply love the shell? Do you actually love the mind regardless of the shell? Is it both? And what I came to realize is that there's no real right answer. Love. Is. Love. *Sigh*
So yes, I am one of the people who just wasn't satisfied with the ending.
If the story was not going to turn out having a romantic ending for Jang Bong Hwan, why have him feel those romantic feelings toward the King? I don't agree that So Yong's spirit inside the Queen's body made Jang Bong Hwan feel romantic feelings for the King. I just don't think it was that simple. Jang Bong Hwan came to care for the King as a person while seeing him struggle and looking past the mask he wore in front of the court. You see this breakthrough in the first half of the drama while the King struggles with maintaining his façade in the palace.
To be clear: I'm okay with Jang Bong Hwan going back to present day. I mean, come on, if So Yong's spirit is still in there, she deserves to live too. I'm totally for that. BUT, why doesn't Jang Bong Hwan get a romantic ending too? It felt like Jang Bong Hwan did all the hard work in getting the King to fall in love with the Queen, his feelings getting tangled up along the way, but he doesn't get to reap the rewards. And honestly, the King loved the Queen BECAUSE of Jang Bong Hwan. I'm not sure if he would have been drawn to her had Jang Bong Hwan not been impacting her behavior. It's even implied that the King noticed that things were different....the dramatic irony is that Kim Byung In didn't notice the change in the Queen...with the King noticing it, you'd expect him to then long for what was missing, right?
Also, you've seen it so many times in dramas - why didn't they do some form of reincarnation of the King in present day as a woman so Jang Bong Hwan gets his romantic happily ever after??? They've done it so many times before. Such a wasted opportunity.
Due to these points, I am having trouble feeling satisfaction with the ending of this drama. I understand that due to social taboos in South Korea, the writers felt pressure to be more conservative in representing sexuality, but it just feels supremely unfair to Jang Bong Hwan. I truly believe based on their dynamics, inner monologues, and interactions, he romantically loved the King, not just So Yong's affections coming through and imprinting on him. His feelings developed and grew over time in a reasonable fashion. Even though Mr. Queen is not nearly as tragic, this ending reminds me of the lacking ending from Scarlet Heart. *sigh*
The OST was really great! "Here I Am" by Jo Hyun Ah was my absolute favorite in the entire drama. I absolutely adored her voice and the melody. *applause*
I don't think I would be able to rewatch this and I personally didn't enjoy it enough to warrant recommending it to others. Shin Hye Sun was amazing, but...the story, the comedy, and the unsatisfactory ending are enough for me to just feel meh about it.
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Episodes 1 through 4 were pretty boring with building the setting and introducing characters. BUT, I did get sucked into the drama by about episode 8.
What I'm most disappointed about is how this drama is referred to as one of the best bromances of all dramas, but I just don't see it. I mean, yes, once the 2 MMC's, Chief Kim and Director/Prosecutor Seo ally they have a bromance, but it only starts after episode 17...out of 20 episodes!!! I was *most* interested in watching their dynamics, but Director Seo was a straight up bastard for more than 3/4 of the drama, and while his character is redeemed and I'm satisfied with his character development, the BROMANCE of this drama is severely lacking literally in duration. And I get that the writers needed to build their relationship and dynamics to have a good bromance, but jeez this just took too long. Chief Kim and Director Seo were who I was here for and 4 episodes just wasn't enough for me. *sigh* I will admit though, once the bromance officially started at episode 17, the way Director Seo loses his temper whenever Chief Kim tried to be romantic toward him just cracked me up. I rewatched those scenes at least 3 times before moving on. XD
While on the topic of Director Seo, who was originally Prosecutor Seo: his backstory is pretty weak. Him going from a very successful, ruthless prosecutor to a corrupt Director of a huge conglomerate just doesn't satisfy me as a viewer. The reasoning he changes career paths is because he wants to use his law knowledge to outsmart the law and make it big in the business world....it's just such a flimsy motivation. It lacks sincere backstory....
Now that I think about it, Chief Kim's backstory is pretty flimsy too. We see his childhood and father in some brief flashbacks that imply their impacts on his conning profession, but they're not well flushed out. Hmm..
What I *did* really love is the CEO's son, Myeong Seok. His character growth was so well portrayed; he truly grew up for the better by the end of the story. And he was such a sweet guy by the end of the last episode. I adored watching him going from this spoiled, unloved child to being productive and developing friendships and loyalties after being recognized for his contributions.
The OST is also pretty great! I really liked the theme song, "Must Be The Money" by DinDin - whenever it started up, I always knew they were getting down to business :D. I also enjoyed "Will You Love Me" by Gilgu Binggu & Kim So Hee - a very nice romantic melody. "Dreaming" by Seo Young Eun was perfect for the more melancholy scenes. And my absolute favorite was the instrumental piece, "Here Comes The Chief Kim" - the rhythm, instruments, and pensive tune just resonate with me.
The ending was also truly satisfying and wrapped up all the loose ends. We get a "1 year later" epilogue and each character has their conclusion nice and neat. I like that Director Seo is happy and I like the implied romance left there for him.
So, in conclusion, like I said already, I won't be rewatching this and I likely won't recommend it to anyone because even though I generally liked it, overall it's just meh, despite what the raving reviews imply. If you are considering this drama because of the bromance, I would encourage you to reconsider. This drama is more about how you change as a person when you begin to care for those around you. The two MMC's both changed, for the better, during the duration of this drama because they developed attachments to those around them, wanted to protect them, and in the end, took down the bad guys. In this regard, even though it takes 20 episodes, it was a good story.
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Great drama initially as a binge-watch, but it just doesn't hold up as a rewatch
So I originally watched this drama shortly after it was all released (maybe early 2017?) and adored it (I will admit it was one of my first K-dramas soooo). I binge-watched it - I, in particular, remember crying a lot and loving the emotional rollercoaster this drama sent me on. I binge-rewatched maybe a year later with my mom and loved it still. But here we are, 2021, many many MANY Asian-dramas later, and rewatched it with some other family members and just didn't love it as much? Which devastated me. HOW?! WHY?! Well, honestly, I think it's because this third time rewatching it, we watched it slow (maybe 1 or 2 episodes a night over the course of a week).DOTS is a drama you MUST binge watch. By breaking up the episodes, you lose the emotional impact needed to truly be moved by the drama between episodes as the story progresses. To ride the emotional rollercoaster I rode while watching it the first (and second time), you've got to let yourself be complete immersed without interruption to let the impact of the story hit you hard (which, as sadistic as it sounds, is what makes it so good in the end sooo ^-^').
Anyways, what I didn't like about DOTS the third time around was the pacing - I found the boring parts to be extra boring and kind of drag the overall story (it was mainly the slice-of-life moments in between the exciting action stuff). I also found that I really didn't like Dr. Kang - everything about her relationship with the Captain seemed rather self-centered, which made their romance unenjoyable for me.
BUT what I still loved about the drama is extensive:
-- The OST is great! There's one or two songs I'm not a huge fan of, but for the most part, I adore all the songs (even the instrumentals pack a punch!).
-- The romance between the Sergeant and Army Surgeon Yoon was still really sweet and I could totally relate to it.
-- The romance between Dr. Song and Nurse Ha was absolutely adorable and I loved watching it again!
-- The relationship between the Sergeant and Private Kim - I bawled at the end when Private Kim cried (*even* on the third rewatch ^^)
-- The intense action and "bigger-than-you" plot was great! The natural disaster was the perfect vehicle to grip your heart on top of all the other variables and stressors in this drama to keep me watching.
Overall, I don't think I want to rewatch this again. At least not for a really long time. And I've learned my lesson - it will need to be binged for sure. DOTS *is* a good drama, but it does have it's flaws.
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Drama Special Season 11: Traces of Love
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Totally worth watching for Lee Sang Yeob!
I didn't even know 1 episode "dramas" existed, courtesy of KBS's yearly drama special series, but I'm glad to have stumbled upon them. These 1 hour-ish short stories are great to watch when you're in a funk or don't want to commit to a longer drama or just need a satisfying break.What made this drama worth watching was seeing Lee Sang Yeob. I absolutely adored him in Once Again and when I saw him in the trailer for this drama, I just had to watch it, especially considering it was a romance. And let me tell you, he did not disappoint. His acting was stellar, as expected. I even cried at one point when he portrayed his character's heartbreak.
Lee Yoo Young was okay. I've only seen her in 1 other drama (Tunnel) and she's just an odd person to me.
The ending was slightly rushed - I would have been okay with a slightly more drawn out, developed conclusion to their rekindled romance, but perhaps that was due to time constraints?
I didn't really notice the music, though, that's not surprising in an hour long drama.
I don't likely think I'll rewatch this. Not because it wasn't good, but because I'm not a huge fan of the FMC/actress.
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This review may contain spoilers
To very briefly summarize for a quick read on whether or not you should watch this drama (without spoilers):Kairos seemed like something I would enjoy: a man who fights to save his daughter and wife through the use of time travel communication. Unfortunately, as the story progressed, the story got more ridiculous. There were so many plot conveniences that were just logically dumb; the wife's plot and the severe character change in the secretary - to briefly name a few without spoiling anything. The decisions these characters make just don't make sense, even if you look from their emotionally driven perspective (PLOT CONVENIENCES UGH). Personally, don't waste your time with this drama. It's really not worth your mental sanity - it will leave you frustrated and exasperated.
A detailed breakdown of why you shouldn't watch this drama to clarify my brief summary above since this drama is getting a lot of attention (spoilers below):
I initially started to realize I didn't like this drama when it was revealed that the wife is mentally unhinged and cheating on our MMC, Kim Seo Jin. What made this so unpleasant was that the story wasn't written this way initially. To the viewer, she has no logical reason to cheat on her husband; while he is a workaholic, he loves his daughter and takes care of his wife. They took it further by the wife faking her own suicide AND the faking the kidnapping/horrific MURDER of their daughter. They then try to justify this horrors by making her this villain with sociopathic tendencies, which was unsettling and not the type of drama I sought out to watch.
***Predictable - of course the wife is a cheating bitch, of course the daughter is alive. *rolls eyes*
Then there's the secretary that they did a similar 360 character change. He was a bit fishy in the beginning and his ploy was predictable, but his severe character change to this heartless villain that adjusts his glasses all deviously and has a cold tone of voice just makes no sense from the type of character he was prior to his ploy reveal (the change is too drastic - it feels unnatural).
Then I just couldn't wrap my head around the disabled father who lost his own daughter in an accident. His goal was to get revenge on Kim Seo Jin because he had been convinced that KSJ is responsible for his daughter's death. Okay, sure, I can see how that happened. But then he turns around and uses KSJ's daughter, convincing KSJ that he's kidnapped and murdered the little girl?! What type of father, who he himself is grieving the loss of his child, could bring himself to commit such atrocities?! And while some people might be able to justify it saying, "he wanted KSJ to feel what he felt," I just can't stomach it.
***Predictable - of COURSE the disabled father was going to be killed when it appeared like he was going to reveal the plot.
Then there's the male "friend" to Han Ae Ri who stole her entire life's savings meant to pay for her mother's heart transplant surgery. She MURDERED him for what he did in the original timeline! While I understand her not killing him in the new timeline (which I can imagine was really hard considering the situation), how can they just be friends again? She was guarded at first, but now it seems like they trust and depend on each other and it just doesn't add up to me. If that was me, I wouldn't be able to. *shakes head*
The phone calls between KSJ and HAR were just ineffective. I know that they only had a minute, but it seems like *they* didn't realize that. *rolls eyes* Logically, it would make more sense to send a bunch of text messages to be delivered in that one minute so they have EVERYTHING they need for the day rather than these constantly interrupted phone calls.
Also, I know this doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things, but it was so distracting: who decided on the awful hair cut/style for LSY's character? It looks so unflattering - in everything else I have seen her in, her hair is so beautiful, and SHE is so beautiful - just WHY?!
And could the writers stop making HAR cry about things that haven't technically happened yet? KSJ is telling her what to do to PREVENT these terrible things from happening, so stop freaking out before anything has happened! Be relieved and motivated that there's something you can do to stop this. UGH.
To summarize:
Why add all of the amazingly acted, choreographed, and portrayed theatrics of agony in the first 2 episodes if it was going to be changed to a revenge plot? The first two episodes made Kairos appear like a drama about a man who loses his entire family - first his daughter, which breaks him and his wife, then his wife. He becomes so driven to save them once he realizes he might be able to change what happened through the help of HAR. But then the plot devolved from a drama about a man saving his family, to a convoluted revenge plot with over-the-top, unrealistic villains (based on how they were written and portrayed in the beginning). Would it have been so bad if this drama was unique from other dramas of similar genre where the wife was dedicated and loved her husband and they had a normal relationship? To create *shock* value, this drama loses substance through the use of these "plot twists." I just couldn't watch anymore of this nonsense. Too many things that were incorporated in the plot to accommodate the progression of plot that I just couldn't tolerate anymore. In conclusion, I was expecting a really different plot from what was delivered, and this, along with the mentioned flaws, is why I am dropping it.
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Promising story, horrible conclusion - UGH
DDSSLLS was solidly enjoyable in the beginning. Ra Ra was a bit of an airhead compared to my usual tastes in FMCs, but she was innocent and wasn't malicious at all. Her struggles were cliched, but believable - a fallen heiress having to adjust to life without. But who picked Ra Ra's wardrobe? It was okay *sometimes*, but most of the time, it was AWFUL. I know that name-brand expensive clothing can be pretty ridiculous, but this is crazy. Just WHY? *shakes head*ANYways, the side characters were also entertaining. I generally liked all of the side characters and their stories, but my favorite was Jun.
Jun was precious and a classic tsundere and I loved him 100%. My fierce adoration for him is why I'm pretty upset with how his story turned out. I was surprised by the initial plot twist in (I think) episode 6, but recovered quickly because the plot twist didn't destroy who he was. But once Jun's big secret was revealed, I wasn't a fan of how they wrote his story around his tiger mom. And THEN they wrote his "tragedy" into the finale and I just couldn't stomach all the flaws in their story writing anymore. How is it possible that this is the same screenwriter from Shopping King Louie?! (Though, not to go off onto a complete tangent, but Terius Behind Me flopped too sooooo. >.< )
I'm not sure why the writers felt the need to go in the direction they did in the last 6 or so episodes, but it didn't make me happy or satisfy me at all. Just because they "overcome" tragedy doesn't mean that their story all of a sudden becomes more endearing (this could apply to more than 1 character/set of characters). *sigh* And then the time jump in the end before the "epilogue" was such a cop out (so many products in entertainment do this and ugh it's annoying). *roll eyes* Write a strong ending/conclusion instead of a forced "happily-ever-after" after destroying the story with garbage tragedy and plot inconsistencies and fallacies.
I wouldn't recommend this drama. The beginning seems like it'll be a fluffy, sweet, drama, but it's really not worth it, even if the majority of the drama is light and fun. The conclusion to this drama really brought down this story.
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My biggest gripe with this plot is how unrealistically marriage (or simply being dedicated to a significant other) is being portrayed here. A marriage does not simply crumble due to 1 nasty thing said, especially not when OBVIOUSLY inebriated and upset. Especially not a couple who have been together for nearly 20 years. At this point in your relationship, you know each other. Situationally, you would know that your spouse is upset AND drunk and therefore, while they might be embarrassing the crap out of you both and saying something hurtful, after things settle down, you would be able to process and address the root of the cause.
18 Again uses the reasoning that the main couple don't *communicate* and that's why their marriage fell apart, but let's be honest - if you didn't communicate as a couple, you would have broken up many many MANY years ago, with or without kids, so making it seem like they broke up over the 1 situation is just ridiculous (and while the writers allude that there were other things that contributed to their break up, it's weak and lacks substantial elaboration). *SIGH*
Further, I have real issue with everything being Hong Dae Young's fault. What about the fact that he gave up his dreams to make his wife and twins his new future? Yes, he made that choice, but it doesn't seem to matter to anyone that he lost his dream career and source of income as a professional athlete and just had to figure out how he would support his family (which would obviously leave him feeling unfulfilled, bitter, and depressed, which is ALSO ignored *huff*). So what, Jung Da Jung is allowed to keep her dreams, but Dae Young has to suck it up because...?
Additionally, to solely blame one individual in the relationship is to neglect the fact that there are indeed two factors the relationship depends on. I see this flawed perspective over and over again in entertainment and I find it infuriating. We all play a part in our relationships and dynamics. We are not perfect. Painting Da Jung as flawless and the *perfect* wife is so unrealistic and frustrating. It implies that only one partner needs to take responsibility for the outcomes of a relationship.
Also, what was with the creepy side-character plots? (The sinister teacher and the stalker) Bleh.
What made this drama worth watching was seeing Dae Young's beautiful memories with his children. I think the drama should have spent less time on Da Jung's career and Dae Young's flaws and more time on the dynamics between this family. What could have Da Jung done to support Dae Young's dreams and/or career? How could Dae Young be more involved with his high school children and be a better support at home? And the root issues of the arguments between Da Jung and Dae Young really needed to be addressed, not just the 1 moment Da Jung was embarrassed and hurt. *sigh*
I would also like to note that the OST for 18 Again is really beautiful. Very pretty, melodic music.
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Unexpectedly wholesome and enjoyable
The biggest selling point of this drama for me was it's length - 3 episodes is a PERFECT drama length when you don't know what you want to watch and just want to fill in the void until you find that one drama to dedicate yourself to a good binge watch.I really enjoyed how wholesome this story was - each of the main characters had a nice, relatable story and evolution, which I ate up. I appreciated all of their struggles and how they each overcame them.
While the story did not have romance, the story was still overall satisfying, even for someone like me who enjoys a nice romantic sub-plot. The only plot improvement I would have really loved for the ending to have included was a bit more in the ending/conclusion of the story (like, a more inclusive epilogue).
I loved the soundtrack, both the OST and the selected piano pieces.
The actors were well-suited to their roles.
I will likely rewatch this for a number of reasons: it's quick and short to watch, the good feels in the end, the piano genre (I like instrumental music), and the unique plot device of blindness. Stories like this one make me want to go find similar ones to enjoy the feels again. :}
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Unexpectedly golden!
I watched this movie with low expectations because it looked funny. But about half way through I realized that this was an unexpectedly great movie!The 2 main characters are a humorous pair - unexpected best friends who have each other's backs, through serious and dumb situations. :D
I love how the 2 main characters weren't really sure what they wanted to do with their lives, but by the end of the movie, they found their passion through the events of the plot. The ending was perfect. Bittersweet, but perfect.
The action was so well choreographed and the soundtrack was good too!
The actors in this movie were all well suited for their roles - absolutely on complaints from me there either. XD
I 100% recommend this movie to people who enjoy action and/or investigation themed stories - it's fast paced, action-packed, and has a great moral to the story. An impeccably satisfying watch!
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I wasn't a huge fan of Im Ye Eun's love interest - he was too immature and it felt superficial considering she has a daughter; any man who is interested in her would need to really prove that he's there for the long haul for both mother and daughter.
I really liked Baek Chan Mi's love interest and I was really glad they got their happily-ever-after, even if it was kinda rushed in the end. I wanted more!
The beginning of the drama was really strong - the tragedy from the beginning was devastating and goosebump-inducing. But I just didn't feel like the conclusion packed a strong enough punch in the end from all the buildup. And what was the point in killing off a character in the last episode?! *inner rage* XD Also, the identity of Michael wasn't a spectacular reveal and anticlimactic, which was really disappointing.
The fighting sequences were fantastically choregraphed! So cool and awesome to watch! Especially the female fighters!
I've never seen Choi Kang Hee in anything, but I really liked her voice AND her acting.
Yoo In Young has usually played the antagonist in previous dramas, so it was really nice seeing her as the good character. I'd really like to see her in another drama, again as the protagonist, but a little less meek.
I really loved Lee Sang Yeob - he's played a mix of bad and good characters in the past, but this drama just kinda sealed the deal for me. He's someone I will definitely give a drama a chance for! The way he portrays emotions and his chemistry with other actors is great!
OST was nice - I enjoyed some of the songs, didn't care for other songs. The music was well placed though, and didn't bother me overall.
I likely won't rewatch this entire drama, but I'd probably happily watch F/MVs of this drama, especially to get some of Chan Mi and Seok Ho.
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Intense movie - might hit a bit too close to home, but rewatch-worthy
I really liked this movie. It's been on my list forever and with the current COVID-19 climate, as morbid as it sounds, it seemed like a rather fitting time to watch it. What had me the most intrigued was the FMC's daughter, Mi Reu - her role in the story dynamics had me curious as to how the story played out. And man I was NOT disappointed!The story was a good pace and the intensity was real. The atrocities that occurred during this fictitious outbreak had me feeling so grateful that modern-day Earth nations handled COVID so civilly. While watching the events in the story unfold - the push and pull between medical staff and government officials and military - I experienced a range of emotions from disgusted to enraged to delighted to worried to grateful, etc. The scenes and pacing were well balanced and kept me thoroughly emotionally engaged.
I really liked the dynamics between the two MCs, Ji Goo and In Hae. In Hae seemed like a pain in the ass at first, but she was alright - she was just trying to do her job and care for her daughter, no more, no less. Ji Goo is simply a good man - he does the right thing because he knows it's right, not because anyone is looking. I loved that about him. He took care of Mi Reu (In Hae's daughter) simply because he grew attached to her and knew he *could* help, even if it put him in danger. The relationship he developed with Mi Reu had my chest tight with worry in anticipation for how the story ended. >.<
The ending was great! I didn't see the story taking all it's turns and twists (issues with containing the disease, issues with preventing the spread of the disease, issues with curing the disease, issues between governments over international risk, etc.), but by the end, I was very satisfied! That one scene were Mi Reu protects her mom and Ji Goo holds them had me crying, goosebumps all over my flesh. It was fantastic and the build of emotions was beautifully executed.
Overall, I would recommend this movie. It's definitely serious and has a lot of things that are a bit hard to watch (the politics alone are enough to send anyone into a fit of rage), but the movie as a whole was really well paced and satisfying. Be sure to watch the epilogue - it brings everything full circle - had me smiling ear to ear! :D
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