5th time’s the charm?

Jang Nara and Jang Hyuk reunite for the 4th time, how promising.

Wish they chose a different project so I could actually celebrate.

Firstly, this show does a horrible job at balancing it’s tones- actually, it doesn’t balance them at all. There’s an abundance of silly scenes with the family/kids that have constant banter and jokes, and then there’s plain serious assassin-work scenes. They do not mesh at all, not because they can’t, but because whoever worked on this show just doesn’t know how to make it flow.

At the very end of episode 4, we get serious again when Jang hyuk’s character has to kill his friend, but then suddenly someone else does. It’s revealed to be Jang Nara’s character. Woah, right? Then we continue with this at the beginning of episode 5, serious music flashbacks and dialogue. Had me thinking oh maybe they’re starting to focus on/put more effort into the serious half of the story, only to then be back with the family bickering over absolutely nothing less than 10 minutes into the episode. This continues throughout the entirety of the series, making me never take the serious scenes seriously despite them clearly wanting the viewer to.

Apart from the above, in general I found it hard to keep watching/stay focused, as there is no actual story. Just family fighting and murder. Family fighting and murder, family fighting and murder, family fighting and murder. There is no arc no objective no start-to-finish narrative. Just flat nothingness trying to disguise itself as comedy.

I honestly think it would have been an alright drama if it stuck to one of it’s tones and never touched the other. Humour&Family only: Have Jang Hyuk’s character work at a regular office. He could still have the female boss which could still cause a comical rift, and he could still be absent in both fatherfood and marriage due to working long hours. They could work to fix that together all in a happy tone. Now this still wouldn’t have made it perfect as whoever was writing the comedy aspect wasn’t great. A lot of the jokes fall flat. Nara and Jang Hyuk manage to carry the material they’re given, but it’s not much. For example, for the first 4 episodes the biggest running gag is that they can’t have sex because they keep getting interrupted. FOR 4 FULL EPISODES. Anyways, I digress. For if it stuck with it’s serious tone instead of humour, they could have gone a similar route as Undercover (2021) but keep the Mr. & Mrs. Smith aspect to set it apart.

Do I have any positives about the show we actually got? Hmmm..
• Episode 11 Thailand opening followed by the fight together.
• Shin Su A - a wonderful child actress. Steals every single scene.
• Minseo & Taegoo - cute dynamic.
• Jang Nara - a great great performance from her and a cool-ish role for her as well. Badass killer
• As always gotta love Jang Hyuk’s dramatic comedy (though I did find it a little over the top a few times here… let’s blame the direction.).
• Jang Hyuk & Nara’s chemistry - still hasn’t died. Let’s hope we get a 5th reunion to make up for this mess.

Overall, a big let down. I believe there was a lot of potential to do good here but they crammed so much genre and characters in that it was not only messy but annoying.

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Surprisingly Delightful?

This was a very very simple drama. Some may interpret that as it being boring but I think it's simplicity makes it shine truthfully. It's one that gets better with every episode. Around episode 7 is when I was finally hooked in, and after that it was really just an easy uphill climb.

I loved how all the characters connect in some way past present or both. The relationships the female lead has with all three male leads are so unique and beautiful. The simplest thing about it I would say is the “lead” relationship (Huo Zhan Bai x Xue Zi Ye). Her relationships with Mingjie and Miao Feng are super complex and drew me in entirely. Them appearing in the later half is in part what makes it more enjoyable as it proceeds. When we're just with the first half it can seem slow, but after finishing I look at it overall as more of a slice of life drama thrown into wuxia environment.

The culmination in plot was actually really well done and exciting. It uplifted the pace in a way that had me wanting 40 episodes instead of just the 32 we got, which is surprising because typically 40 episode cdramas become my enemy.

I originally had it at a 7, but once they stepped outside of just the lead's development and let the female lead show her range of heart for others (specifically Mingjie & Miao Feng), I really began to love it.

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Loved until I didn’t…

I had a really fun time with this. We got so many different but all interesting plot lines, one after another within the Luo household between both ShenYuan and YiNing along with the other family members and villains. I didn’t care much for the side plot love triangle with her uncle and cousin, but apart from that I was pretty invested in all that was going on.

I do think it fell off in the last 10 or so episodes.
The lead romance was poorly paced and very rushed on YiNing’s side, which makes sense since it really only had a few episodes to get going when they revealed her true identity to her so late in. I bought ShenYuan’s feelings for her since he knew they weren’t related all along, but her’s seemed to reciprocate very abruptly. She even kept calling him third brother in their romantic scenes which threw it off even more. The wall between sibling love and romantic love was never shown as divided for her to us. I did enjoy their relationship up until the “romance” began. I was really looking forward to how their love story would play out but it ended up just materializing from thin air which was disappointing.

I really appreciate Ci Sha. The simplicity of him using his own hair instead of the wigs like all other men in this shows really stands out. But apart from that, his performance here was phenomenal too! I really wish they explored LiNing’s side to their relationship more. She seemed to brush it under the rug and preferred to pretend it never happened, but it did and she did have feelings back then. To ignore it entirely even after learning of the misunderstanding was a little odd. It would make more sense if they better paced her romantic feelings for ShenYuan so we’d have proof she’s really moved on, but again those never clicked for me due to the last minute appearance of them.

I’m keeping it at an 8 despite the later episodes having let me down, because I did really really enjoy it for well more than half of it. It was a delight and exciting to wake up to new episodes every day.

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A good pairing.

Note: I watched on Netflix, which had 43 episodes. Not sure why MDL says only 40.

Let’s be honest… the plot was not plotting here. However the leads were fantastic, both in character on their own and in their relationship together. They were the only enjoyable aspect for me. The side couples were cute enough but truthfully I did not care about them or anything else going on really.

Ren Min is incredible. I had only seen her years ago in “Cry Me A Sad River” so it was nice to see her again and leading in a show opposite Xiao Zhan. They have great chemistry and do what they can with the story they were provided. Since they were the leads I was able to enjoy a good chunk of this. It was just any scene without them that had me struggling to pay attention.

That being said it got messy enough towards the end that even I began to lose interest in the leads themselves. I’d say around episode 37 or 38 is the last good moments had with them.

Rating it a 7 for the leads. If you were to watch only the leads scenes it’s a 7 for sure. Take the rest into account it probably goes down to a 6 but.. whatever.

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Had potential, completely wasted it.

Skip through every Jang Hyuk&Kim Hee Ae scene and you'll be watching a decent show. (I say this as a Jang hyuk fan). The entire plot with Jang Hyuk&Kim Hee Ae both alone and together is so uninteresting I don't know how anyone could enjoy it. However: the entire plot with Lee Min Jung&Noh Min Woo is pretty good. I feel you could stretch Lee Min Jung's entire story into a 50-episode makjang where she's the sole lead, everyone else a supporting character, and it would be thoroughly enjoyable. The first 10 episodes feel like a great set up for that. We have her ideal happy ending squashed and her want for revenge on the woman who did so. I feel as though they should have grouped Jang Hyuk's character in on that. She should want revenge on both, and fall in love with Noh Min Woo's character along the way. If I didn't know Jang Hyuk as the leading man he is I honestly would've expected the actual story to flow this way. Because by halfway through, she dislikes Jang Hyuk's character and has developed a lovely relationship with Noh Min Woo's. It may seem like I'm making up a story of what I would have preferred, but for a moment it actually made logical sense for the story to go the way I thought.

Now, if I enjoyed everything with Lee Min Jung why have I rated it so low? Well, while she is the female lead, Jang Hyuk&Kim Hee Ae are the other 2 leads, and they take up probably 90% of the show. So I didn't get to enjoy much (again, I am a Jang Hyuk fan).

Any other positives?
• We get a lovely Once Again (2021) reunion with Lee Min Jung&Lee Sang Yeob, and not something tiny but they actually have a few scenes/conversations with one another.
• Kim Sung Oh&Choi Hye Jin's characters and character's relationship with one another was cute.

I would only recommend if you don't mind getting SLS, though be warned: you'll have to sit through a horrible plotline with the other characters.

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Perhaps the 2nd best K-drama of 2021.

[ Original date written: June 21st 2021 ]

I was very much looking forward to this and had actually been impatiently awaiting it's premiere ever since the cast was announced. The first couple of episodes I did enjoy but as it progressed I found myself loving it more and more.

Oh Yeon Seo is my favourite actress and she did not let me down with this drama comeback of hers. Her performance (as always) was incredible. She brought so much power and emotion to the character of Lee Min Kyung, in a way I think no other actress could.

I loved Jung Woo in Reply 1994 so I was interested in seeing him paired up with my girl and I have to say they exceeded my expectations. At first I wasn't sure how romance would be tied in as the beginning episodes mostly contained hysterical arguments between the two with no suggestion of anything else, but by episode 5 their beautiful development began and not only was their chemistry evident AND outstanding but their story itself was pure warmth for the heart. It’s a perfect romcom, but it also manages to bring characters with tragic pasts together with a healing outcome.

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Underwhelming.

The cast characters and relationships are likeable. Even the overall story concept is likeable. But the execution is just very very boring. The mystery aspect them trying to solve and stop the murders is so uninteresting that it's sad, a letdown. The only thing that kind of kept my attention was Jin Kijoo's character dynamics. Her relationships with her parents in the past was the biggest like of the show for me, and then her with the male lead was okay. Apart from that…

I wouldn't say it's a bad show. Just bland, slow, -which is sometimes fine in general but here I feel they were in no way intending for it to be that way. They probably expected us to be wrapped up in the mystery but, for me at least, that was not the case. I just wanted it to be done and over with to be honest.

I wouldn't recommend it, but if you're the type of person to watch shows for the actors and not just story, then go ahead. Both Jin Kijoo and Kim Dongwook are good here.
All of the supporting actors are great as well, especially the younger characters from the past. I look forward to seeing them in future shows.
Lee Wonjung is a definite stand out.

Any other thoughts? Hmm.. maybe it would have turned out a little better if they followed the current trend that lots of networks seem to be doing lately: 12 episodes instead of 16.

I'd like to note that I am a massive sucker for time travel shows&movies, which is why I was actually really looking forward to this. While it was a let down in the previously mentioned ways, I will also say that I often forgot that this was a time travel show. The story focused so much on the investigation that whenever the younger versions of her parents weren't around, I genuinely forgot we were in the past.

I know I've given a lot of negatives while simultaneously saying “It's not that bad!”, so I will provide a compliment to even this out and wrap it up: Kim Dongwook's character's father being the killer was a very good twist. Especially when you take into account how for a good portion of the series he was adamant that it could've been Jin Kijoo's character's father, it gives the reveal a nice contrast to the storyline overall I think.

That's about it.

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Great start!

I love love loved this plot! I was hooked by episode 3. FL has swapped bodies with a woman the ML can’t stand. It was very interesting, because we know he’ll want nothing to do with her- which leaves lots of room for development in their relationship. I liked most of the characters too, both leading and supporting.

While watching I did notice a large amount of comments regarding the FL’s acting and how “horrible” it was. I must say, I don’t understand this at all. She was perfectly fine to me. I’d say she was on par with the ML if not better at times. Perhaps she’s had a poor performance in a past series that gave people the bias to criticize her now, but from her portrayal here I did not see anything wrong with her. She is also GORGEOUS, her hairstyles and outfits here are all so pretty.

My main flaw would be it’s runtime. I think it should have been condensed down to 24 episodes. With the 32 we got it feels very long and drawn out sometimes, especially during their investigations. I didn’t mind the romance being a slow burn, but the rest of the story did not need so much space. By the final 10 episodes I began to feel numb to all that was going on, it was very hard for me to stay focused. But the first 2/3rds of it were fairly good. I initially had it at an 8 while watching, but as it lost it’s footing a bit I’ve decided to drop it down to a 7.

It’s good enough!

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A whole lot of nothing.

I loved the film g@me which is based on the same novel as this, so I was very interested to see another adaptation. This version does too much unfortunately. They add a lot of extra story to fill the runtime, but they also change the characters in personality. They make them all (ML, FL, & FL’s father) too nice, too sane, and too pitiful. They give them all extreme morals and provide constant (theoretically) valid excuses for their actions. Let the characters be evil! Let them be chaotic and selfish. Then when they become vulnerable due to the circumstances, it’s so much more interesting and easy to buy. To see bad people be shocked and care despite their usual priorities. This is what the movie does and does so well. This series becomes dull and boring unfortunately. It loses it’s footing after the twist halfway through when in reality that should have pushed it forward excitedly.

I plan to read the novel soon but until then my only reference point is the 2003 film, and I think it was insanely better overall. If the c-drama is a more faithful adaptation I may be able to appreciate it a little more, but as of now it was a disappointment to me.

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Nice enough!

It took me a while to start this as I wanted to distance myself from these lead actors due to my familiarity with the roles they had played in Love and Redemption. Years later with a fresh (or forgotten) mind I finally pressed play and I must say it’s certainly not bad at all!

The leads are very likeable, both together and on their own. I liked the polar opposite personalities within Qing You, (her drunk and not drunk selves), and I liked the consistency in Mr. Mo’s personality no matter the circumstances. Their romance is very sweet and mature- no silly misunderstandings or needless temporary breakups. The side characters and side couples however are very disinteresting and I truly didn’t care for anything going on there.

It definitely could have done better with 24 episodes instead of 30, but overall I’d call it an average or fine show. I’d maybe only recommend it to people early into their drama-watching careers as it may fair better there. Once you’ve seen so much in this genre, shows like Love at Night can become/seem very disposable.

While it probably won’t stay in my mind for long, I was able to binge-watch and enjoy it for the most part.

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A single but detrimental flaw.

[ Original date written: Nov. 27th 2020 ]

This had the potential to be one of the best sageuks ever made. Only one thing held it back : the character Rin. What an annoying and worthless mess of a character he was. He served no purpose other than (unintentionally(?)) ruining his best friend's life, with no logical reason I might add. His feelings for the female lead make no sense. They came OUT OF NOWHERE. He blatantly hated her and found her untrustworthy right up until the moment he found out her true identity... and then he was suddenly in love with her? Again: MADE NO SENSE. Same goes for the female lead's feelings for him. If you remove him from this show, it would be PERFECT. I have no doubt about it. That being said, (minus Rin of course) the leads were great, delivered amazing performances and were good characters with good development (for the most part). It also has one of the best (if not the best) *sageuk* villains I've seen. And the side dynamic between the characters Moo Suk and Bi Yeon was really adorable.

I will also note, this is the only K-drama I can think of where the female lead ends up with the second lead - of course the one time we don’t want it.

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The most pleasant surprise.

[ Original date written: May 31st 2021 ]

I was initially confused by how much I enjoyed this because everyone I've seen talk about it has either said it's boring or bad. But for me it wasn't. Not in the slightest. This is one of the most interesting dramas I’ve ever seen. It’s so different from most K-dramas, as it doesn't follow the usual formula I’ve seen oh so many times.

Obviously the cast is great but the STORY the lead characters and the relationship between them are all incredible. It’s got good humour, an interesting and VERY different romance, AND it executes sad tones very well. For instance we'll be in a romcom environment but then our male lead will travel to the future to see something terrible or sad, instantly raising our interest and investment in seeing what becomes of these two.

I was hooked by episode 3. The scene of him going to his death day for the second time and speaking to his future self on the phone, that was when it got me. I thought to myself "Wow. This is going to be incredible." AND IT WAS.

For flaws literally the only thing I have to say is the last episode isn’t very good, though not in terms of no happy ending just in that it seemed pointless. But I find a lot of K-drama’s have bad last episodes the writers probably just don’t know how to wrap things up well.

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Definitely worth the watch.

[ Original date written: June 4th 2021 ]

So many different (but interesting) characters all connected by messy relationships form an overwhelmingly beautiful drama.

It’s very well written, not only in story but the characters individually. The only character I really disliked was Se Young. The story also followed an unpredictable path which I appreciated.

I feel the musical score must be mentioned as well. At times it was all consuming, the themes that played at the ends of episodes or during tense moments were very well suited.

It’s the perfect show to binge-watch. After I finished each episode I felt the need to keep going.

If I were to go into negatives, (this is more of a nitpick really) I'd say it seemed to normalize slapping your adult children. Both Jung Hyo and Min Soo get slapped by their fathers upon their first in-person confrontations following the news of the pregnancy, and it's never really addressed later they just kind of move on from it. I would also say Min Soo's character development was lacking. He starts out rude and selfish so I was excited to see how he'd grow but he kind of just accepted the pregnancy eventually and became the perfect boyfriend. Where was the change in him? I did like how they showed him always looking at the ultrasound picture and Jung Hyo's mother planner it did present some good visual conflict in him but when it came to actually saying things not much came out.

That’s about it.

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From gold to bronze.

While watching I initially had this at an 8/8.5. The first half was so much fun & very enjoyable/likeable in every aspect. But the second half completely flips to a different story and vibe (the simplest way to describe the shift is that it went from a romcom to a melodrama). It didn't become bad, but I definitely started to lose interest and was just waiting for the end. For this I had to bring the rating down a bit. If I was rating just the first 10 episodes alone it would stay as high as I initially thought. Logically it should be a 5.0 rating since half was good and half not so much but I feel like that would be a disservice to the great first half. It was genuinely good so it would be a shame to seemingly hide that with a poor rating.

Jang Hyuk & Jang Nara are lovely together in that first half. I understand why they've been casted together 4 times now. While Family (2023) let me down quite a bit, here I did get a good chunk of enjoyment and am glad to have watched (despite finding watching the second half to be a tedious task).


Bonus notes:
Choi Jin Hyuk's character's sister storyline was kinda dumb but I understand they probably wanted something for him to do besides be in love with Miyoung.

Also, I loved the music. Jang Hyuk's theme in particular was great!

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The side couples carried.

The two side couples we get are very cute and interesting. I've loved Chen Hao Lan ever since I saw her in 'Everyone Wants To Meet You' and am still holding out hope she snags some lead roles soon.
The leads here are fine in the beginning but they became very stale not too far in unfortunately. I kept watching for the side characters, but as soon as I got to episode 29 I had to shut it off. I cannot sit and watch them use the slaughter of black people to further the male lead's "tragic" background. Kdramas often portray African countries in an ignorant and disrespectful way, but I believe this is the first time I've seen a Cdrama do it. Very disappointed.

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