ownes
portugal
Sweet, funny beginning for 2022
Business Proposal shines brighter when taken as what it is: a light, funny, heart-warming romcom, not meant to be realistic or too over-the-top. It has just the right amount of silliness mixed with heartfelt characters and stories like ones you've probably heard in countless other kdramas - yet, it is the comfortable acting and ambience in each episode that makes you want to watch more. Last two episodes were a bit of a mess though, I have to admit.Sejeong was definitely the highlight, her way of acting makes you want to pay attention solely to her; there's an earnest, beautiful energy whenever she's on the screen. Inah didn't fall short in her performance, I especially loved the more serious moments. Personally, I think the cast was very well picked. I had my doubts regarding Hyoseop but, surprisingly, his slightly awkward yet determined charm did a number on me. It's a great deal, because now I look forward to all of their individual future projects ^-^
It had some funny CGI here and there, the soundtrack in my opinion could've had more variety (but since SBS gave us a Sejeong OST, I won't be too angry). If you want something funny to watch, or just to have a really good time, go ahead! You surely won't be too disappointed
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Nice aesthetics and feelings, petty outcome for 2nd lead syndrom victims
"Every life is a work of art. And it becomes complete when all pieces come together."What started as a very heartfelt journey had a somewhat wishy-washy end - and no, I'm yes, I'm saying this because I was under the influence of the stressful second-lead syndrome. But not because he didn't get the girl - I swear!
Our Beloved Summer on a first look basis seems to have any troop to appease the typical k-drama viewer: haters-to-lovers, second lead syndrome (to some, at least), artistic shots, unjoyful and earnest quotes, and a very nice soundtrack to back it all (I'm a sucker for any Sam Kim OST, sue me!).
And it does! I fell in love immediately with it all, the way everything felt like it was worked to the detail, with both the heart and the mind. This series felt clever yet sincere. I found myself rooting for every character, even NJ who I didn't enjoy 75% of the time. They were complex, more than pretty cardboard on a screen.
However, OBS was a victim of what I like to call "The Episode 13 Curse" where, around the episode 13 (from 11-15 usually), it looses its essence. The main characters' plot was pretty much concluded, still the writers thought this kdrama clearly needed more emotional trauma and suffering (the overdone type), especially for Ji-Ung, which pissed me off. At least, from the little they developed his plot in the last episodes, they added a delicate streak to his journey. I'm still pissed, since it felt...wasted, tossed aside, so we could have 30 minutes of lovey-dovey scenes. They could've easily spared some time and level everything.
By all means, I didn't hate the main leads. They had cute chemistry, I'm just the type of viewer that enjoys the push-and-pull more than the icing on the cake, the chase more than the destination. Basically, I love to see two people getting closer, but not them being close, does it make sense? Well, still, they were adorable, and almost everyone in the series is impossible to hate. In the end, I felt like this is the type of drama that is meant not to be watched, but to be carefully appreciated. The ending was just bittersweet to me.
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This first season is quickly bingeable, not too heavy on the feels. It's hard to make a huge review over such a brief experience, but all I can say is that it wasn't bad. It serves as a good backstory, but it's not a Shakespearean masterpiece of web dramas or anything. It's cute, that was all .
Injae is still one of my favourite character, I love her comfortable, casual and upfront personality. Watching this made me miss the trio and their interactions, which were one of the best aspects of this series afterall: the friendship. As the series progresses, it gets lengtheir, which is better. You can't make much with episodes that are 5 to 8 minutes long. The filter? camera? was a bit too white-washing.
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Almost everything about You Drive Me Crazy was wonderful: a normal -which isn't bad here- love story of a boy and a girl that aren't fully aware of their feelings from one another and would rather stick to comfort than take a risk, full of fun, silly squabbles and clap-backs, of emotionally filled confessions and little details. I really adored Lee Yoo Young's voice and eyes, and the way she portrayed her character managed to not annoy me, when the usual quirky female lead in romantic dramas might do. Kim Seon Ho was perfect as well (and as expected now from me), his voice and tones, eyes and facial expressions are like no other.
Plotwise, the writers were able to add so many details in such a simple, easy story, I think that's what I treasured the most. An attentive watcher will notice the emotional clues, the meanings behind certain shots and scenes.
Another great aspect about this drama is that it's short, thus the story is able to flow well and not have its message being dragged and lost - and the watcher can binge this supper quickly. You don't always need 16 episodes to have a nice meaning and fine work.
The only minus would be... and I'm sorry to critique but Sung Joo's performance was a tad... awkward, probably due to his character's use in the story and innocent character.
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Idle hope served in unfair doses
Start-Up started with the promise of something different, with the chance to become more than just a bundle of side arcs and predictable endings with faded, empty emotions. It didn't live up fully to that promise, but rather bloomed in a different way.There's many aspects to praise: it deals with a side of business I'd say is unknown to many (me included, and I'm studying management!), its writing (not the plot, mind you) is smartly crafted and delicious to hear, to feel. The acting and the cast could not have been better, alongside the ost that was like no other. Cinematography and some clever plot points here and there (tvn was very sly with the parallel scenes) also made watching much more enjoyable. It also had some good messages every now and then, although their execution wasn't... the best. Still, it wanted, and surely did plant a somewhat feeling of...idle hope.
No matter how pleasant it was, it has to be mentioned that Start-Up lost its message, its way and purpose between love quarrels and far too few business aspects. It fell victim of the 'time-jump-to-excuse-character-development syndrome, to the no-existent-character-development sense and, yes, the side arch or sample-character (cough villain-ish dad and jerk-ish half-brother cough) that no one asked and is tired of meeting.
Because it dealt with actual complex, layered and unusual people living in unpleasant, uncomfortable scenarios that required meaningful actions, Start-Up most likely will give any viewer a headache: one has to deal with problems that could've easily been solved with communication, with more sensibility and less... yeah, less drama.... As neutral as I try to be, the writers can't fully shake the sensation of unfairness with the way things turned out. It was a happy ending, but not a satisfactory one. At least, not for me.
When I think about Start-up, a lot of missed opportunities come to mind, but if they were all to be fulfilled, I'm afraid it would probably make the drama 40 episodes long instead of 16. So, for what it is, it wasn't bad. A lot of food for the mind, but if you like to get worked up then go ahead and watch it.
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A plot with flawed characters that I considered controversial - as it is based on a bad, perhaps immoral action that leaves anyone puzzled. Its romance neither felt rushed nor ever overlapped the main crime intrigues. The performances were amazing - kudos to Moon Geun Young for playing not one, but two characters! and to Kim Seon Ho for bracing so many emotions wonderfully from start to finish. Another great thing was the timing: tvn really knew when to cut the episodes and when to switch on and off themes. I grew fond of everyone.
However, it was weak on many aspects: most osts were quite bland, there are some odd camera angles here and there; when they ended an episode on a climax, it easily dialled down in less than 5 minutes of the following one - it isn't a big problem when you're able to binge, sure! The second female lead could've had much more spotlight- most second leads in kdramas get reduced to a sample role (obsessed ex girlfriend, best friend, etc) but Ma Ri was intriguing because of her almost holy commitment to justice and rule-like personality. And there was also one particular plot decision they choose that irked me, because it felt far too fantasy-ish for a crime drama (spoiler: the mom getting her memory back just when it was needed to, then forgetting it).
If anything, the only big disappointment was the fact that there are not any real ghosts in it. :p
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Nice, no-sense and light-hearted series for the heart
Melo not solo felt much like a nice breeze. It might be short, but it's enjoyable and a fresh breath from the tedious pressure of everyday life.A bit nonsensically and exaggerated at the times, due to the series being comedy driven, but I believe any viewer should be okay with that if they mean to like this. It's the far too weird scenarios that define this webdrama and make it worthy of watching. These types of dramas are not meant to be seen very seriously.
The timing was nice although the ending felt abrupt and rushed, as if the writers ran out of plot and had to quickly tie everything. There was a window to explore Doyeon's character more, which was not open and rather buried, and it made me sad - especially because, once again, her performance surprised me positively. I truly think she should have more acting gigs...
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Averagely good
When it comes to webdramas, one can never have their hopes far too high: their budget is clearly limited, some shots here and there were awkward, not to mention that, as the viewer, you can easily predict the entirety of the plot - however, like in many other series, what matters isn't exactly the line of events, but rather how they're executed, how they're acted. There's this very nice, cute charm thrown over a quite creative idea - a Goblin that wishes to become human must have 10 kisses and with each, he learns a new emotion - which is all due to the cast that is young and all equally pretty (kudos to Bae In Hyuk for managing to look gorgeous in every. single. scene. and.outfit.). Their performances weren't all over the top, but enough to make the drama entertaining and flow well.Kiss Goblin is very bingeable and honestly perfect if you really are looking forward to some comfortable time. It's fun enough to not make you feel like you're wasting your time, and rather gives you a sense of warmth, with some sprinkles of cringiness here and there.... I do wish for a sequel one day (those that watch the drama will surely share the sentiment).
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The two main leads are quite possibly the saddest people I've seen in dramas in a while. Sure, they aren't sad all the time. No one is if I'm being honest - but the tone in which the drama sets its plot is in one of tragedy and sadness: they are stuck in a dreadful web of romances: there's, if I got the memo right, 2 love triangles, one for each main lead, and possibly a 3rd one will blossom (I dropped the drama but a little bird tells me it will happen eventually). Apart from this, which is already 70% of the plot, a lot of the personalities are only built on their weaknesses and fears, there's little space for other stuff. The female lead is relatable because she tries her best yet fails, the male lead is relatable because people set expectations on him which he feels obligated to meet, sacrificing his own happiness in the process. And everything else is just a sad blabber of their career struggles or how they're in love with the wrong people - until they fall for each other, then it will most likely be a sad blabber about their relationship issues.
Then there's the other 30 minutes of the episode, where we'd get to see the inner lives of the second leads, whom i could not care less, and some other trouble related to the music scene the drama was set in, which I skipped out of simple boredom - why should i care about these characters, whom i feel no affection towards?
Maybe I'm being too neat picky, maybe I just had high expectations. The drama isn't bad, I did enjoy some parts I watched: I really do like the music, the filming and scenery. There were fun, adorable and intense moments between the main leads here and there. I absolutely adore Park Eun Bin, she's a genius, and Kim Min Jae's voice is something out of this world, with his performance being the exact opposite of what i saw in Tempted.... But, for now, I'll wait for their other works. This drama just feels like a lot of unnecessary stress, and I don't want to give in on the temptation of the pretty leads.
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There's something wistfully sad and empty about this movie, and many others of the same genre of love-meets-some-magical-loophole (I'm looking at you, The Beauty Inside and Your Name). Because the tragedy feels so unavoidable, it makes every memory, even the happy ones, feel sorrowful and pitiful. There is also a stillness, a calmness that isn't common in western cinema in all these films which contributes to a sense of reality, if it makes sense. It turns something made out of fiction to a scene resembling a memory, like when you're recalling a passage from a book.
The lack of a huge plot twist in this one makes you almost feel suffocated.... call me a hopeless romantic but there was always a chance for something more to happen, for a solution, a cure and yet, it didn't. That just deepened the emptiness of everything, and made the story much sadder. I was surprisingly not angry at the end, only compassionate and left with a vague feeling of hopelessness.
The one big detail that bothered me was the intensity that is given to a relationship that barely has a week. There's a rushing to built closeness, to have you attached to characters you barely know, barely see, that fails a lot with me (I've seen it in another Japanese works before..). If I wasn't curious and (mildly) patient, I would've dropped this film.
Acting and filming were both on point, everything was far too beautiful! I absolutely adore Nana Komatsu, I feel this pull to watch more of her works (which seem very diverse, from romance to psychological thrillers).
This is honestly a great movie if you don't have high hopes and want something still, calm like river waters.
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Pop-Out Boy did have more potential than the one Playlist worked with: I think the relationship between the friends could've been developed and showcased a lot more, and that would make the drama funnier and even more interesting. Basically, if it had been focused on the 4 of them instead of mainly the main couple, the friendship wouldn't feel so flat. It was hard for me to care for them has a "whole package" when 90% of the episodes is mostly about Nam Wook. The romance was ok - I've seen worst, with less chemistry, and I've seen better, with more realism. As for pacing, it was okay most of the time.
I was very surprised with the main cast! Doyeon's performance was incredible, I had never seen her acting before but, of all 4, I think I'd place her in the second, right before Hyun Wook's performance! Mingyu had his awkward moments here and there, which the cheesiness of his character helped create, but for a first drama it isn't unbearable. I also knew Ji Hyo from her reality show and was smitten by her.
That ending was so promising, it makes me sad to think Playlist won't continue the drama's legacy.... Overall, Pop Out Boy is okay, perfect to binge!
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The drama fell victim of the usual high school kdrama troops: there's a cold-hearted yet beautiful girl that attracts everyone to her, there's a bully with a tragic backstory, there's a very bubbly main lead that believes the world is made of rainbows, there's the adorable airhead and there's the outspoken wannabe idol girl. This aspect really limits
any authenticity given that many times the writers will always have to break the same old boxes they put their own characters in.
Nonetheless, it had the gift of a very fluid story with no halts whatsoever and a good pacing - with just a little bit of an awkward acting here and there (i'm staring at you HyunBin). And it wasn't badly produced, just plain and simple, with some good lovely life lessons. It was nice that we got the point of view of various characters and generally speaking, the main cast is adorable. The very ending scene was my favourite.
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pros: the plot, as bland as it is, it's bearable and quite bingeable. 0.5 stars for the moonbin performance because i love astro. cinematography was good too
cons: felt far too short, which made the acting feel very bleak and at times even meaningless?
but it wasn't exactly bad either... it's just that when you make such a short drama, you can't expect it's impact on the viewers to be grand. the mermaid prince will be scattered by the wind and eventually forgotten, as much as it's sad to admit
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As for the horror aspect, take it from a scaredy-cat like myself that it was bearable. There's no loud, jarring sounds; no unnecessary suspense. Everything is done in an apathetic, cool manner.
The acting might not be the best thing since sliced bread but it isn't bad. Pacing and shooting were nicely done too. Alive is an excellent web drama if you're looking for something different from the usual romance, slice of life stuff, but don't hold high hopes either.
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For most of its runtime, the drama lacked in various aspects: it has a very bare minimum character development; the romance and male lead were overshadowed by the oddness of the whole human-cat relationship - which also left very little room for any "personality" outside that (as in, L's character didn't have any personality, any meaning besides the paper of love interest nº1), and they had a weak excuse of a "villain" that I bet was mostly used as a lazy way to keep the plot going. Also, let's not forget episodes 21-22 which had a terrible pacing. The ending was also... not how I'd do it.
With this, I'm not saying it is a bad drama though. Only that it's lacking - but then again, not all dramas have to be masterpieces. You can, and should be allowed to enjoy whatever you want, as long as you don't feel like you're wasting your time.
One last thing: their narrative about time and its importance deserved far more screen time than the one it got; if done so, I think I'd be able to give this drama yet another star. Also, the cast was so good, I think I became fond of everyone here!
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