dreamlovewrite
New Zealand
Each character had it's place and time to grow and I really appreciated the effort to do so in such a short drama. The fact that we do have mains, but they didn't overshadow the other characters was another plus for me. I enjoyed seeing the intertwine of relationship -from forming, being destroyed, put back together- showcased between both the main characters love line, and the other members of the package tour.
This drama wasn't over the top in any way but tasteful and highly realistic... we have a couple on the brink of separation, an older couple faced with the possible loss of one partner, another that looks promiscuous from the outside, but is actually very organic and lovable, and a newly forming one out of tragic love behind them. All four couples compliment, guide, encourage, speak truths and appreciate each other by the end that I was overwhelmed by the family aspect of the travellers and their guide in the final episode.
Romantically, the natural succession of Yoon So So and San Ma Ru into dating whilst on this small vacation was highly appreciated by me, especially as there was no holding back on the skinship or physical needs like in most dramas. San Maru's childlike curiosity and yet masculine attributes to his personality easily made him my favourite character from the get go. He isn't afraid to approach situations, or accept his failures either. He teaches So So far more than she has experienced in the 7 years of being in France and I think by the end of the drama, it's apparent that France has a home value in her heart, but the people she was avoiding back in Korea are her true home. Again, I really liked how open minded So So was from the French culture, and how she didn't allow Maru's old school way of thinking to have room in the more progressive country that way. It was refreshing to find a female lead comfortable with that side of herself, and not balling her fists up and looking to have a nervous breakdown when a man merely breathes on her, haha.
My favourite character by the end was actually the one I found the most annoying in the beginning. Oh Gab Soo starts off as brash and very irritating, to me as a viewer, as well as the rest of the tour group. However, as his story with his wife unveils more of the history, his behaviour becomes more bearable. By the end, he had me sobbing into my blankets over his despair and heartache from keeping silent for so long about knowing of his wife's condition. It was beautifully portrayed and I still feel sad thinking about it a day after watching.
The representation of France within the drama from a historical and travel destination view was tastefully done. I appreciated the information shared to the travellers as if I were too there learning and exploring. I felt towards the end it did run a little out of steam from becoming repetitive - "here is a place, do this, now it's free time, meet up here" - but I understand also why that occurred. The drama isn't perfect,there were scenes that in my opinion could have been more explored, or omitted, but it was pleasant overall and left me intrigued to know how it would go as I progressed through each episode.
The Package offers a lot in its small 12 episodes, and I think more k-dramas of this length would benefit the industry. It gets a beautiful story across, delivers what is needed and wraps up with the ending of what will come next in a positive way.
10/10.
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This was a very boring and hard to maintain interest in drama.
I usually love both Shin Se Kyung and Nam Joo Hyuk's acting, but their chemistry was missing throughout this drama, Ha Baek is very forced and awkward in character, and Soo Ah seems to have all the luck, even if she's deemed unlucky. Half the time you couldn't tell what would happen next with them because of the lack of continuity and growth. They jump a lot of steps in the relationship, and their god/servant status truly made it hard for me to accept Ha Baek's love for her. One minute he's happy to do anything for her, the next he's back to patriarchal ruling and "woman"/derogatory sentences that made me question how Soo Ah could be so mindless and love him.
I had more interest in the other main characters, though even they had very dry and unnecessary moments that made this drama hard to continue. Moo Ra's constant emotional mood swing changes were enough to give anyone a headache, you would want to like her, then not. Bi Ryum jumps around from playful, to scorned in 2.5 seconds, and whilst half the time it actually compliments his nature, the constant snippets to his past and how wicked he could be took away from building him more consistently. Some of the lesser deities were interesting, but fell through the cracks too easily to maintain their storyline. Other people were just so unneeded and wasted precious time that could have been given to progress the storyline with more interest and emotion.
The only character I found worthy was Shin Hoo Ye, and had hoped they would give him more than the drama managed to deliver on his part in the story. They left him very 2 dimensional at times, as a troubled soul, yet lost valuable time to build on his demeanour and just left him either angry or miserable.
Often the delivery of this drama felt rushed and out of sync, or slow and meaningless. Ha Baek's constant lack of powers grows tiresome, especially when they build it up that he can use them for Soo Ah at times... even this gets forgotten about and it becomes a battle over who should have the human, who should do as they are told, and who is acting blind to love.
I can't really say more than this without giving away major plot details that truly irritated me and bored me completely, but I advise to skip out on this one, even though Gong Myung was highly attractive throughout.
4.5/10.
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The typical story line of a poor, kind and naive woman falling for some rich, successful, commitment issues man is highly overdone in Korea, especially with the marriage contract turn real deal. But MND stands out to me for its consistency of personalities, even through the storyline's growth. All the characters in this story don't suddenly change, but ADAPT to their situations, and I really was impressed that this was maintained throughout. Gong Gi Tae starts out as an arrogant asshole, and he finishes as one... much like Joo Jang Mi's naive kindness is still present in the last episode. The difference is, both have allowed themselves through experience to accept the bad/what they dislike about each other, and still manage to love each other greatly. Their relationship is very organic, they grow together through experience, not through lavish events. Their special moments are very unspecial, a term Gi Tae uses in the end and I completely agree with it. The times spent as his home were the best, and really built up their connection... Gi Tae's special home environment became the constant for this couple and I really enjoyed that aspect in this drama.
Of course it wasn't completely normal... this is a drama full of dramatic people and ways of being. We have two families with two very distinct situations, one rich, one poor, one putting on a show to the world, one on the brink of destruction. I liked that there was no perfect family life in this drama, and even in the end it remained the same... minor characters too had their own share of issues, that for only two did things change, through sacrifice of giving their hearts up for the main couple. Otherwise the others, such as Gi Tae's best friend Lee Hoon Doong (whom provided great comic relief throughout this drama) ended very much so how he did start out, frightened of his Mum, and balancing out his love life/work life.
In fact, if we step aside from the main couple, my two favourite characters are the ones with the most happening or dramatics involved. Hoon Doong destroys Jang Mi in the beginning, and yet they can successfully have a friendship and cry on each others shoulders in the end. Hoon Doong is genuine, even if he was a play boy in the beginning, and actually cares for all those around him... making him a formidable character throughout. Gi Tae's mother is my other favourite character, despite her controlling, and wicked ways towards Jang Mi and Gi Tae, she has put up a lot with her cheating husband (whom is portrayed well as the scum of the earth, which I highly appreciate the drama doing), and playing the perfect housewife/daughter in law. Her revival and acceptance of who she should be in the end really makes her strength throughout the storyline amazing. I especially like her connection to the family, even though in the beginning she was nothing but a witch to them - or so it seemed.
There was a lull period towards the end, where it dragged out a little, but it's to be expected, most dramas have them... otherwise this was a drama that I binged on over a couple of days, avidly getting caught up in the love affair, watching the subtle changes of Gi Tae to Jang Mi, and believing in their love. We need the return of dramas with simple storylines such as Marriage, Not Dating! I can see why this drama was added to a top 5 list of romance dramas to watch that made me pop it on my list.
The cast was perfect, Yeon Woo Jin is a favourite of mine ever since Introverted Boss (I'm late to his acting it seems) and Han Groo was excellent as Jang Mi. Jinwoon always puts his best into his acting roles and he wasn't a let down here either. It was my first time watching Sunhwa act and I enjoyed it... there was no weak actors in my opinion.
I highly recommend this drama, it definitely has rewatch value!
10/10
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That doesn't mean it's all amazing. I loved the fact that we got more than just Kim Jehyeok's story... and focussed a great deal on the other characters around him, to build him up, to contrast him, to empathise. My interest was solely on the other characters towards the middle and end of this drama, and was thankful they had impacting changes within their worlds.
However, characters were sacrificed so easily, with plot lines discarded to bring in new characters (Dr Ko and Kaist were prime examples of this). I found this to be detrimental to the storyline as a whole. Being left to give them an ending based on assumption didn't really sit well with me, but thankfully new characters would distract me and I would become immersed in their worlds. I LOVED the brotherly Tom and Jerry relationship with Captain Yoo and Looney. I loved the turnaround of Crony, and Jailbird's unconditional loyalty to Jehyeok. Minchul and Lieutenant Paeng were my favourite characters within the whole storyline, and their constant stability that gave emotional and physical support to the others in their close proximity really spoke of the familial bond that was shared in the jail.
The in-prison drama and "bad guys" really held little attention for me... they all had similar agendas and their formula was always the same, and so their presence in the drama held little impact... they attacked, but Jehyeok and his squad/correction officers would always prevail and it became a stalemate to the storyline.
Again, the romance between Jiho and Jehyeok and following their memories of how their relationship had been really held no value to me at all. I found Krystal's character to be irksome and very one dimensional, which made her behaviour frustrating at times. It also helped with decreasing my interest in Jehyeok as a whole on the outside of jail... inside he had so much more personality and change. I remember reading a review where out of all the criminals, Jehyeok's personality really suited jail and I have to completely agree, he was a boss, he had the authority on his side, he basically could say jump and they would say how high... he had the makings of a true prison boss down pat.
The saddest reaction I had was for Looney, Hanyang had worked so hard to abstain from drugs, but the cruel, harsh cycle of being an addict caught him immediately and it broke me to see him lose it all again... I feel some of the other criminals who had done far worse gained less punishment than he did because it was self inflicted. He was still one of my favourite characters for being so honest to who he was even in the end.
I'm glad for those who turned their lives around in the end, even if it's only mentioned of. I was hopeful for characters once out of jail, and apart from Hanyang/Looney, this seemed to be promising for them all.
I would recommend this drama to anyone who wants a break in the current formula and isn't sick of the legal dramas like I am slowly getting to be (though I admit there are a few on my list to still watch due to actors, haha).
8/10.
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The actual story line is engaging, we have a tight knit of a main cast working in a law firm together after some major set backs in the career paths/lives of the two mains and an ongoing serial murder case. The law firm scenes provided amazing banter and life to this story, so watching for their office dynamics alone is most deserving to mention. It's one of the consistent parts to this drama that I like. Even when things change within the law firm in the end, it's amusing to see the same characters in the meeting room, and that no meeting is held successfully! The family aspect of the office is my favourite part. You have so many amazing characters in the firm that balance each other out. I love the genuine friendships that are formed, and the revival of lost ones as well as the story progresses.
You also have a main villain who was played expertly and was one of the main reasons I continued this drama. I'm not huge on this legal genre of late, but for me, Jung Hyun Soo was a worthy character that impacts you emotionally. Admittedly, when his scenes die down in the middle of the drama, so does the atmosphere for me. It's almost like whilst he is unable to be used in the storyline, the mains travel down this lacklustre path until he returns. Which, by then seems to be where the drama has lost all of it's steam. It seems to throw out the obvious routes for how it will go from here. All the same, up until the very end, Hyun Soo remains the most interesting character within this drama. I love how well Dong Ha has acted this broken person throughout and will be looking out for his acting pursuits in the future.
Sadly the romance, which started out strongly, with all the right tensions, turns into a hot mess during the second half. I get the reasoning behind the connection of their pasts placing pressure on the relationship, but Eun Bong Hee had been such a breath of fresh air as a character throughout, with her honest way of expressing herself, even when it landed her in hot water. I loved how true she was to herself. Sadly, when the secrets started to build, it was as if her character started to sink. Whilst there were still things in the second half of the drama that made me enjoy her, she lost some of her shine and became like many other female characters that are pining and still attempting to have their independence in a relationship that's been put on hold. I found No Ji Wook to be slightly better in the second half, though most of that probably stemmed from outside of their relationship, and how he wanted to protect all of his office family, and not just Bong Hee. Hyun Soo was really good at bringing out the best in Ji Wook. I must admit the one thing I did like about their romance is that they were grown ups in some respects, and made no hesitations to bring in more intimacy at the right times... nothing worse than watching an adult relationship develop mentally, and emotionally, without physical signs. It was naturally done, and I appreciated that.
Side characters at the prosecution center weren't always needed but I did like the connection within cases it offered. I also liked the friendship of the three girls at the end. It was nice to see even with all the bickering and hostility in the beginning/middle, they could all depend on each other to relax and hang out in the end. Some of the best kinds of dependable friends are the people who have truly seen you at your worst and still haven't truly shoved you away.
The music in this drama was alright, I found a couple of songs to be a bit boring, but otherwise complimented the show. The lighting was a bit off, especially in the romantic scenes, it was generally always aimed at showing the silhouettes, and it was in poor taste at some points in my opinion.
The ending was complete fluff, and whilst I appreciated it's consistency, I was already losing interest in the main couple's relationship by this stage that I found it to be a bit mundane.
8/10.
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The dreams in itself is what propelled me to delve into yet another prosecution/reporter drama in the beginning. I enjoyed the contrasting scenes that the three would have and how they would resolve. I liked how there was always more than one variable for how things would go, and the consequences that followed. But somewhere along the way, although the dreams mostly did relate to Jung Jae Chan, Nam Hong Joo and Han Woo Tak, they seemed to become solely focused on benefiting their lives (mostly Jae Chan's), and less focused on how they were in the beginning, saving others. This was a shame as there was some amazing storylines that came from those dreams, and not focused on the pure outcome of a court case.
As it continued and drove through a heavy course of judicial, and frankly not of my interest, roads, I found my love for minor characters to be far more intriguing. Whilst my love for Woo Tak (and we'll get to that in a moment), was still remaining strong throughout, the characters Choi Dam Dong, Lee Ji Gwang and Son Woo Joo helped me continue through this drama. Choi in particular is a strong character who evoked a lot of thought and interest throughout. And speaking of Han Woo Tak, if any reason is needed to sit through all 32 episodes, it's this character here. He is a breath of fresh air as the "second guy" and I have to hand it to writer Park Hye Ryun for not botching his ending at all, and giving him his own identity throughout. He is a formidable friend, who captures the heart of many within this world and mine as well. Jung Hae In is an actor that should be on more drama watchers' radars, his acting has never failed to captivate me yet.
The ending is always a key point for me, most amazing dramas usually have a less than stellar closing point, but since my expectations and interest had dropped by episodes 18-21, I don't feel as though it failed to meet what I was expecting. Those who needed to face their crimes did, those who needed to learn lessons experienced those, and were closed off with everyone in the world having somewhat of a happy ending.
I would recommend this to others to watch if they enjoy this currently everywhere genre, or enjoy watching the minor characters take over the story like I did. If you're only coming in for romance between Jong Suk and Suzy, you will be poorly let down.
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Go Ho herself is a character that is rather relatable. She shares a lot of herself throughout the drama, her highs and lows and her awkward encounters too. I like that even though she's suffered from heartache, she can still express her feelings honestly, even if they make her look a little shameless at points.
Without spoiling the story, there are several males vying for Go Ho's attention. They range in age, connection with her, position in their career, as well as physically. I like how the show makes a point in showcasing more than one side to each of these individuals and Go Ho being honestly surprised by these experiences. It again adds to her ability to be more relatable to the audience. I do like the humour connected to the men competing for her attention, but I do find it to be a little taxing at points. If I had of been Go Ho, I would have been turned off by it all, proclaim to be single instead of won... however she did seem a "little" oblivious to it, so I can see why it did continue for some time. Plus, I'm sure if any of us were in Go Ho's shoes, having Kim Young Kwang, Lee Ji Hoon and Shin Jae Ha trying to win you over, I think we'd have a hard time saying no! I love all three of them dearly, it was an internal struggle for who I was cheerleading for at points, though I will admit, I wouldn't have chosen who she did in the end... but that's because I was a sucker for Lee Ji Hoon's reasoning/storyline.
The light hearted nature of this show is mostly accepted, though it does seem to make the more serious scenes drag. Speaking of dragging, between Kang Tae Ho and Hwang Ji Hoon the choice in who she would pick seems to get a little out of hand. I appreciate both characters a lot, and to be honest, felt emotional connections to how both of them reacted to their own feelings, and to Go Ho... but I do feel Go Ho herself could have been more proactive in defining the line of when not to cross, and who she had chosen before the ending. Whilst I understand why it was that way, in my opinion, it got to be a bit of a stalemate for the show.
The story/writer element to this drama is one I really appreciated. Go Ho was able to showcase the ups and downs of life within her column, and I did like how it helped others as well, whether for enjoyment, or dating advice hah! Some of the best lines in this drama were the ones spoken, or written, for her column.
Overall this drama is a pleasant experience. Not only is there enough male eye-candy to keep any avid k-drama enthusiast watching, the fun cameos, friendship and office dynamics keep Go Ho's Starry Night at a lighthearted, enjoyable way to spend your day - it's very easy to start and finish in one day, it's what I did haha!
8.5/10.
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On a basic level this drama has it all, friendship, family, romance, character development, time travel, humour, music, it really has it all. But this isn't necessarily a good thing. With all of that come the responsibility to maintain all these and sadly, Hit the Top fails at this. I am unsure if this is because it is a 30min episodic drama, which gives the element of moving onto something new in the next episode, or how the story is shared. To me, there is too much focus on some characters at times that are not propelling the story forward, or not enough focus on the relevant parts of the story.
This is very evident with the time travel factor. Yoon Shi Yoon's character in the beginning is led through some physically challenging tasks to return to the past. However, once they don't work, it's like this old rerun of a saying "go back to where you belong" is said, but no work is achieved. This also relates to his lost money and again there is no true emphasis on either after awhile.. it's just left until towards the end where SO MUCH wrapping up occurs. Speaking of, when Yoo Hyun Jae is finally able to return to his past, it makes little sense. What makes him suddenly feel the need to make this a mission? How does he know he needs to return, and what happens to old Hyun Jae? So many questions that are simply flicked off in the present as "I don't know what happened." That doesn't sit with me and puts a huge dent in this being an enjoyable, believable experience of time travelling that any of the other characters seem to accept.
The romance is shaky, and very up and down. I am a huge Yoon Shi Yoon fan, and when it comes to romance, he usually knows what he's doing given any role he's undertaken in the past. For some reason this doesn't occur as naturally as it has in other dramas. Again, Lee Se Young has also proven herself as a formidable actress to me in Introverted Boss/Age of Youth, and was expecting her to shine as Da Bong's lover. But it just seemed forced. Again much like other 30min dramas, I feel they skip over many steps in their relationship once it's occurred. I guess I like to be led down the path with the characters as they fall in love, not told it's happened.
This drama has a lot of actors who I normally expect a lot from, and so perhaps that is why it failed in my eyes when their performances weren't as strong. I put this down to the busy nature of this drama, the multiple lives we are following about, and the lack of growth in several areas. I honestly found my interest in some of the stories shared to drop around episode 12, and never return. I didn't care for some of the characters, no matter how vital they were made to be to the story. Others could have been more utilised as well, but they weren't and it made it rather messy.
If you are looking for something uncomplicated that is great to watch whilst doing something else, then this might be enjoyable for you. For me, I feel like even though it wrapped up the lives of all with a nicely tied off ribbon, many loose threads leave me questioning what went wrong in this, and how it could have been executed better.
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I thoroughly enjoyed this, it had me feeling all kinds of emotions, from laughter to sadness and all in between.
It's easy to watch, the characters are quite organic and there is chemistry between Lee Seo Won and Han Seungyeon.
I also liked how even played by Lee Seo Won, both Dong Joon and Sul Woo are portrayed to be two different people and it's done well to me.
Seungyeon's character was cute and peppy despite her terminal illness, which was probably the weak part for me, though I felt in the same breath, it made her more realistic, and taking her diagnosis in her stride.
Although it was cringy at points, I expected this and thus really had a good time getting into this story.
I would definitely rewatch again.
8/10.
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