I have so many wonderful things to say about this drama, but I'll start with the one thing that I haven't seen praised enough, and that is the cinematography and editing. I absolutely love the way so many of the scenes are lit and shot. The letterboxed ratio of the entire drama also gave it such a wonderful look as well. Scenes were shot from such thoughtful angles and were framed in such an effective way to convey mood or meaning.

Secondly, I've got to give a hand to the writing. Although the last few episodes felt a little bit sudden, the overall drama was written to be both heartbreaking and immensely heartwarming. Through the combination of slice-of-life writing and talented acting, this ensemble grew to be a family in my eyes. For a drama about prison, this drama ended up being more about ordinary life than one would think. It's not a dramatized caricature that's looking to romanticize criminality, but rather it's a narrative that attempts to portray real people dealing with the same problems that we all have, just in a unique setting.

Specifically, with this drama, each character's arc felt meaningful and subversive. Everything in the drama really is not what it seems, and that holds most true with our "loveable idiot" Jehyeok. Yes, we know that he can be a bit slow and thick-skulled at times, but Jehyeok isn't at all an idiot – he's thoughtful, he plans things out, and he never gives in. He sees people as they are, and maybe that is the gift of his straightforward thinking. I also love that he's reading Romance of the Three Kingdoms this whole entire time, because it's clear that he can't get through it, and yet he's kind of planning out his own tactical strategy this whole time – it shows that his talents don't lie in book smarts, but he can still make good choices based on his sense of self and his ability to be good to others. Also, love that this drama is called "Prison Playbook"/"Wise Prison Life" because that's really what it is – kind of like a playbook for surviving life.

The soundtrack is also amazing, from commanding K-hip hop raps to sweet k-indie love songs.

Everyone should watch this drama! It's just darn good TV, and I also learned a few things about my own life from it.

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Wow, where to begin? This is what I would call a "once in a lifetime" drama. Some dramas just cut deeper than others. My Mister left me laughing and crying, all at once, and the slow pacing never bothered me – in fact, it just drew me in even more.

This drama is so exquisitely written, from how tightly the plot is drawn together, to the perfectly uplifting yet melancholy dialogue. I love how carefully this drama redefines what an "ahjussi" is and what a meaningful relationship looks like. This drama has so much pain in it, but it heals you through that pain.

While the plot wandered, it came back to center, and the character development really shined. Every single character had a duality that made them so empathetic. The main cast is written with dimension and duality; we see them in moments both problematic and progressive, pathetic and admirable, weak and strong. I think that while it's easy to admire a perfect hero, it's the characters that invoke both pity and joy that we can relate to the most. The only thing I would ask for if anything, was for Dong Hoon's relationship with his son to be more clearly written, but this show wasn't about parenthood really, so it's understandable.

The filming itself was done very well — you could tell that the crew put in the time to make it quality. The editing was a little bit awkward for some episodes, likely due to time crunch, but these are minor issues.

The best part about this drama was probably the casting/acting. Lee Sun Kyun just has a look that breaks your heart and warms it at any given moment. His empty stare and heavy sighs echo louder than any of his yells, and each tear he sheds feels like a waterfall. Less is more in his case, and I bought into every moment of his performance. IU really surprised me this time around with Ji An. Ji An is already such a mysterious and complex woman, and IU really gave this abstract character grit and darkness. Seeing her with Son Sook as her grandmother was also so sweet – they had great chemistry.

As for the soundtrack, they absolutely nailed it, 10/10.

I loved this drama. It taught me two things: good storytelling and how to cope with the traumas of life.

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This drama was overall very mediocre— not exceptionally horrible, but certainly not good. I had a feeling that much of the issues were in the production of the drama itself because the acting was completely fine, wonderful even. The cast was lovely, but the writing was very poor even when based on an existing intriguing story. Also, the editing was shoddy, and the post-production seemed to cut the story in a way that really didn't take it anywhere interesting.
The good: the characters were wonderfully complex and the acting was good. The music was also okay.
The bad: MBC really doesn't know how to produce an interesting melodrama.

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This was a really solid romance drama! Of course, going into this I didn't except a deep story or plot; I simply wanted a fun and cute drama, which is EXACTLY what this is.
The premise, while interesting, is super unrealistic and not incredibly complex or deep. However, the writers keep it interesting enough for 32 half-hour episodes.
As for the cast and acting, I couldn't have asked for a better cast. Not only were the leads Chae Soobin and Yoo Seungho incredibly warm and lovely at their own individual roles, but their chemistry together was amazing. The other characters were also very fun and likable.
The music, like the drama itself, is very catchy and cute, but nothing amazing.
Overall, I would recommend this to anyone who wants a light and very romantic drama! Also I absolutely LOVE the cast!

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Wow....where to even begin with this incredible and amazing drama? It was incredibly balanced with progressivism and realism.

The writing was truly on another level; organically-written, deeply thoughtful, and incredible humorous, all at the appropriate times. It follows the stories of 3 couples in their 30s: a house-poor man with a monotonous life gets tangled up with an assistant drama writer in need a place to stay, a turbulent 7 year relationship with an unclear trajectory, and a female professional who deals with workplace sexual harassment and her romance with a submissive CEO. There's themes of family, romance, marriage, friendship, success, and Korean tradition. There's endless book quotes, film allusions, and references to sociologists that enrich the narration and the dialogue. You can just tell that there's intellect and talent in the team behind this drama, as it's incredibly thoughtfully crafted. Even though I'm only 18, I truly enjoyed the more mature/adult vibes of this drama. No spoilers, but I can safely say that if you want a drama that makes you squeal out loud, cry actual tears, and stays in your heart even after it's over WATCH THIS SHOW.

As for the cast, I couldn't have asked for a better cast or more convincing acting, truly a 10/10. Not only was each character thoughtfully written, but I could tell each actor immersed themselves in their individual character's narrative. Lee MinKi outdid himself with the nuanced emotions of Nam SeHee, and Jung SoMin's ability to be cute, fiery, passive, and flustered all within the same episode really charmed me. Everyone was awesome.

I'm not going to lie- I have super high standards for soundtracks, and while this one didn't absolutely blow me away, it was really nice and fitting for the drama. It was cute and light, and I really enjoyed the original score!

I don't typically rewatch dramas, but I can definitely say that I would have no problems watching this one over and over again- it's just so darn good!

I honestly don't think I can ever look at kdramas the same after just how amazing and gratifying this one has been. It was cute, deeply reflective, and overall a fun ride. I'm a slice-of-life fanatic, but I genuinely recommend this drama for everyone of all preferences! A game-changer!

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This was an incredibly well-done mini series. It didn't have the feel of a typical kdrama; it was incredibly nuanced and I felt that the pacing was very appropriate.
While the story is not anything particularly special, certain scenes were written and shot in a way to be very heartfelt, and the overall tone of this drama felt slow and very real. It's not a happy drama, but I think that adds to the slice-of-life effect; it wasn't a happy ending per se, but I felt an odd catharsis watching this. Shim Hee Sub was amazing in this, and I'm glad he's getting more gigs after Rebel. Lee Won Geun is an adorable actor, but I felt that his performance was just okay in this (mostly due to how his character was written). Sooyoung still has a lot of room for improvement, but I applaud her for taking on a role that requires a lot of emotional investment such as this one. The music was very fitting, but didn't stand out. Overall, this drama might not be for everyone, but I don't regret watching it! Very beautiful.

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Long story short, Age of Youth 2 is a great follow-up to the prequel season and is definitely worth a watch.

Getting into the details, I would have to say that this season is inferior to the first one, but it's certainly not disappointing.

The story and subplots were solid, but none were particularly as outstanding as the ones in the first season. It did get melodramatic at times, but maintained a good slice-of-life balance, as it was realistic in depicting how life gets tough and dark, yet life goes on. The first episode was definitely the best; it was a great and dramatic return to the belle epoque we know and love. Jiwon's development arc was amazing, as she gained a bigger focus this season, Yeeun's arc was a bit stilted, but it did fine in articulating a sensitive topic of trauma. It was also awesome seeing our loving motherly Jinmyung finally paving her path in the world, and since season 1 was her success story, she played more of a supporting role in the plots of others, which was still great to see. The addition of Joeun was great as well; she has a relatable subplot, and the actress is completely charming and adorable. Unfortunately, I personally found Eunjae's arc to be highly unsatisfying and unconvincing. It was mostly due to the writing and partially to do with the recasting. I'm not going to blame the actress because her hands were really tied by the fact that Park Hyesoo had defined Eunjae too well as her own character and the writers not being more adventurous with her development.

As always, the music is fun and sets the mood really nicely throughout the drama. The girls are hilarious and this slice-of-life is totally rewatchable. The acting of all the girls was great; I wasn't particularly impressed by the male actors except for Kwon Hochang's actor, becuase that was a tough portrayal.

Overall, this is still an amazing follow-up drama, but I wouldn't say it has the strength to stand apart from it's explosively well received predecessor. Give it a watch!

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Save Me is an amazingly well-rounded and well-executed drama. Simply put, this is not your average drama, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for something intriguing, thought-provoking, and captivating. It's filmed like a movie, and the writing hones in on quality.

The pacing and plot are well-thought out, albeit it starts off slow, it really drives forward after a few episodes. There are certain scenes that just really hit the mark (and even ones that made my jaw visibly drop). Both the spoken and unspoken parts of this script really shine. The cinematography is also astounding. Aside from the technical stuff, the themes and characters of this drama are just incredibly well thought out.

As for the acting, I truly must give a hand to the entire cast for bringing such a chilling narrative to life, because this fictional cult's story is unfortunately very similar to many real life events. Some may disagree, but for me, Seo Ye Ji made this drama. I've heard that some viewers may find her expressions to be bland or dull, but I strongly disagree. She displays a wide variety of emotions, and has great control over even micro-expressions; the only reason why it may have seemed dull at first is because her character is written in such a very conservative manner. The next outstanding performance came from Woo Doo Hwan. Not only is his character written to be so generous and wonderful, but Doo Hwan's ability to capture heartwarming, blood-chilling, raw emotion blew me away. Definitely rooting for this guy.

The music is suitable to this drama, but it's not really that good standalone.

Overall, this drama has been one of my favorites in terms of cast, character, and impact so far. I'm looking forward to the cast and crew's future endeavors, and I certainly hope this drama gets more love!

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You know it's all over when you literally cannot sit still for more than five seconds throughout an entire drama. This was what School 2017 was to me. A great story, a phenomenal cast, fantastic character development, and amazing relationship dynamics that left me screaming and on the edge of my seat every monday-tuesday. While not my personal #1 drama of 2017 because I have particular tastes, it's my #1 must watch for everyone else of 2017. I go into specifics but scroll down to the last paragraph for my verdict.
In regards to the story, it begins a bit rocky and a bit lacking, but the narrative really grows into itself with a charming ensemble and careful articulation of relationships.
If I could give a standing ovation to these new young actors, I would. The biggest surprise I think no one saw coming was Kim Sejeong nabbing a a leading role as her first, and then owning it so well. The lack of experience was apparent, but not an issue considering her ability to charm and her great connection to her character. Kim Jung Hyung was absolutely a show-stealer. From sageuk to high school slice of life, I'm so glad he's gaining more roles and recognition because I sincerely love his expressions.
The music was probably the weakest point of the drama, but in a way I'm glad they didn't capitalize upon it too heavily because it could have distracted from the other good elements of the drama.
Overall, this drama didn't hit deep, but it hit where it counts: the issues we encounter daily, and the brighter side of every situation. The characters are absolutely lovely and swoon-worthy (in terms of personality, not just looks!) and the leads have crazy chemistry.

VERDICT: This is wonderfully fun (like Fight for My Way), coming of age (like the Reply Series), and has the cutest romance (rivaling Weightlifting Fairy and SWDBS) I've seen in a while. I also find it to be an incredibly refreshing entry in the school series and overall genre and it could have eaily fallen into tropes and traps but remained refreshing and exciting! 10/10 would watch again!
***this has no spoilers as its for MDL, but I will be posting spoiler reviews on my blog that I'll link in my profile!!

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Hate on me all you want, but I stand by my opinion that this is a sub-par drama at best.
I enjoyed the serial-style crime show that composed the first half of this drama, but it the writing wasn't particularly clever or fluid as other crime dramas I've seen.
The story felt dragged out and not as cohesive as it could have been, and it overall lacked substance. Crime shows deal with heavy themes of humanity, but this show was just dark without social commentary and had too much cheesy romance. On that note, the chemistry was spicy, but the romance itself was rushed, unbelievable, and not well paced. Even without substance, shows can be saved by fun and action, but again, there wasn't enough feel-good vibes or humor for it to pull that off, so it was just straight-up dark and cheesy from there.
The acting here was pretty good, but acting can't save mediocre writing, and the acting did become sloppy at times. The best performance here was probably Wang Kai's; his character was the only likeable one in the end.
On another note, I understand Chinese patriarchal culture as someone who is indeed ethnically Chinese, but a viewer can't deny the awkwardly sexist writing here.
Overall, I can say that viewers can pass on this drama. It's very highly rated and well-reviewed, but I think reviewers may just have found a show to their tastes rather than a show that actually measures up to the other brilliant crime shows in the drama industry.

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Fight For My Way has probably been the most enjoyable drama I've seen so far this year.
The story is refreshing, relatable, and fun all the way. The characters are fantastic, the leads have great chemistry, and the stories told are real to those in their 20s out there. Each character captivated and moved me in their own ways with a good balance of well-paced storytelling and depiction of reality. Dong Man and Ae Ra are lovable and goofy, Sul Hee is a strong fan favorite, Joo Man is a character that can be both liked and disliked for the same reason: he's incredibly flawed like ourselves, and Hye Ran is a character with surprisingly good development.
When I was watching the stories unfold, I didn't get the typical drama tropes I was expecting. Instead, I got all too familiar stories I've heard and experienced before. None of the drama in this show is outrageous or melodramatic because it happens in real life so often. No story spoilers here, but I will say that this show sticks true to being a slice of life in its own unique way.
The music is really good- both in composition and lyrics. The tunes capture the moods quite well, and the lyrics of the first OST really encapsulate the feel of this drama.
It's great to rewatch as a light romcom, and overall, it's incredibly enjoyable. Highly recommend.

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Argh this drama is such a mess that I don't even know where to begin. First of all, the story is incredibly disappointing: predictable, filled with plot holes, conveniently lucky at times to save the protagonist, and overall filled with frustrating pacing.
The characters that began with promise quickly lost their luster, with probably only Hwa Gun becoming an actually well-written character by the end. Yoo Seung Ho is an outstanding actor with both talent and heart-melting looks, but his character is inconsistent, annoying, and stuck in a plot that doesn't seem to go anywhere until the end. Same with Kim So Hyun- I absolutely adore her in her previous works, but Ga Eun is written so blandly that I really could retain interest in her. As for L (Myung Soo), he actually exceeded all expectations in his performance, but again- his character had many inconsistencies in writing to be of interest.
THE SOLE REASON FOR WATCHING THIS would have to be Hwa Gun. Now, Yoon So Hee isn't the greatest actress out there- she does need some work on her annunciation and just more experience in general. However, she did a great job as Hwa Gun and certainly improved from her past roles. It seems that all of the character development that was supposed to happen to everyone else just poured into her instead. Solidly written and developed, Hwa Gun is a character balanced in virtues and flaws who becomes vital to both the story and the audiences attention. One of my all-time favorite characters.
Dae Mok began as an interesting villain, but quickly fell into the category of antagonists that I like to call "Fire Lord Ozais". [Note: If you've seen Avatar: The Last Airbender, you'd know that the overarching villain is Fire Lord Ozai. However, throughout most of the story, Princess Azula is the truer and much better antagonist with clear complexities and motivations, reducing Ozai to more of a figurehead.] Dae Mok does get some backstory, but it's vague and undeveloped, making him a simplified figure of evil that our boringly righteous protagonists may fight with.
There may be solid actors in this drama, but not even they can save poor writing. The music was amazing, but it's not particularly memorable nor surprising for a high budget sageuk.
If you enjoy overly dramatic sageuks with actors that are easy on the eyes, go for it if you have 20 hours to spare.

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I must say, Circle is the closest to a near-perfect minidrama that I've ever seen. In just 12 episodes it succinctly and cleverly delivers a solid and captivating story without being overly ambitious nor disappointingly sparse. Was is my favorite drama of 2017? Probably not. So why do I pretentiously name it as a near-perfect minidrama? Because despite it not being my personal favorite (I still thoroughly enjoyed it), it is the pinnacle of what a minidrama should be. Usually, due to limited runtime, 12-episode dramas either are too ambitious and fail to properly articulate the story/message, or they just forego substance altogether. Circle's writing, editing, and formatting is able to present a story, message, and impact that balances pace and relevance.
It's easy to mix up sci-fi and fantasy. In my dictionary, fantasy tends to focus more on lore, while sci-fi is more focused on the consequences of human's actions. I'm not going to spoil anything, but I will confirm that this is sci-fi. There's action, tech, and definitely some curveballs, but if you're looking for something more fantasy, this drama may not be what you want. If you're looking for some action and thought-provoking narrative, I'd highly recommend this.
Now for the best part: the cast and acting. With such a short and fast-paced drama, a huge burden shifts from the story to the actors; they basically have to carry the story along. I've watched some of Yeo Jin Goo's child acting, which was enjoyable, but him as a lead was very impressive. Aside from the fact that he's just so darn pretty, he's able to express emotion far beyond his young age. The biggest surprises here were Kim Kang Woo and Lee Ki Kwang. I must say that Kang Woo stole the entire show (sorry Jin Goo). I've never seen him before, but I plan to keep watching his works; I haven't seen an actor display such raw emotion in a long time. He even moved me to tears in my favorite scene of this drama. As for Ki Kwang, I didn't know what to expect from an idol actor, but he blew me away. I felt every emotion he expressed, when he smiled, I found myself smiling. When he was distressed, I felt his frustration. Absolutely amazing. As for Gong Seung Yeon, I recently became a HUGE fan after Introverted Boss and My Only Love Song. This girl will make it big. She's absolutely charming.
As for music, there's only 2 songs on the OST, but they're solid. Not the best, but definitely enough for this drama.
As for rewatch value, I think this is the only drama I would give a 10. It's so complex that I'm tempted to go back and find clues.
Overall, a very good drama. Some may find unsatisfying plot holes, but I had no problem with the omitted information. It's heavy on action and humanity, and light on world-building and lore.

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Rebel was right where it needed to be in story and plot, but it absolutely excelled in characters, acting, and OST.
To establish the perspective of this review, I'm a complete sageuk/historical junkie (scarlet heart, orange marmalade, queen inhyuns man, rooftop prince, splash splash love, the moon that embraces the sun, the princess weiyoung(c), saimdang, rebel, nirvana in fire, to name quite a few in my list) and will review this show both standalone and within the context of this genre.
The story isn't especially surprising, but that's what I liked about it. Modern television has been pushed to an almost ridiculous level of pursuing thrill factor that other aspects of shows lose their luster. Rebel isn't overly ambitious in its writing, but that allows it to shine as a whole. Of course, it is indeed gripping and refreshing, but that is due to the attention to detail and fleshed out characters. Rather than seeking originality through complete innovation of this genre, it finds originality in the writer's care for the story rather than pandering to an audience. Weaker points of the story would get into spoilers, but let's just say that there could have been more episodes (surprising because I usually call for less) and that while the antagonists were good, they weren't my favorite.
Now the acting- this was just phenomenal. Kim Sang Joon's Ah Mo Gae is arguably my most favorite portrayal in a historical drama. Ever. His irresistible charm pulls in viewers and his control of emotion makes him like the most human character. I'll cut the character/acting section short because I'll sound repetitive but tldr every character was unique, properly developed, and absolutely charming in their own ways.
The music. Oh my god. I just found out the OST was on spotify and have had it on repeat since. Before we start, I must say that I take OST very seriously- it's just as important as cinematography, casting, everything. Rebel has a distinct and unified sound that matches its story. It ranges from your typical heart-wrenching ballad and love song that every kdrama has, to the intriguing music of the palace. But what really takes the cake is the section of the OST that has the traditional sound more akin to what common people actually sang and still do sing. Fiery tracks like If Spring Comes are what get me excited and even sing along while watching. Definitely 10/10
Overall this drama is absolutely my top sageuk because it deals in complexity with great care. I live for nuance, and most of my favorite media involves ambiguity. No plot spoilers, but I'm going to say that Rebel somehow pulls off complexity without ambiguity and excessive nuance, which made it work as a sageuk really well. Definitely recommend, and I will be posting a spoiler-included review later on my blog!

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