Jasmine
USA
Just as a note, all the leads in this drama are completely new to me except for Kim Mi Kyung (loved her in Healer and here she is a completely different character) I like the characters so much. They feel like real people I would really meet in life. I admire Seo Hyun Jin's character, our Oh Hae Young. She has so much tenacity and willingness to throw herself out there, both in her wrecked love life and difficult work life. Her humorous antics are also hilarious. She gave this drama life. Of course, Eric was stellar at portraying his brooding character that is actually warm inside but SHJ's multifaceted character and her way of portraying our OHY is what made this drama. From being down in the dumps to easily happy, SHJ acting as our OHY, made me fall for this drama.
On the surface, the plot isn't really that new but DK and our OHY's relationship is what makes this drama what it is, regardless of the flaws because that's a part of it as well. Family love, dealing with abandonment, self-exploring, and more are all something this drama touches on and deal with well. Sometimes I hate Do Kyeong so much for his selfish actions, but then I can't help but love him later on again. Aiya, basically he made me a mess of emotions. Thanks Eric. And yet, I find myself rooting for them despite Do Kyeoung's mistakes, despite all he has done. It's amazing what some raw, sizzling chemistry can do.
Speaking of the chemistry..wow, just wow. For their relationship, it isn't just the feels-it's completely heartbreakingly realistic. Whether it be an ecstatically happy scene or an agonizing, tearful scene that is making me bawl- it all hurts and in a good way. Often times, I feel like I'm on a train that will eventually crash. I know that and yet I keep watching anyways even though it hurts so much. Their tug and pull relationship was overwhelmingly hard to watch, seriously, and every time they're together, the charged atmosphere and tension between them is so tangible. They shouldn't even be together given they need to heal themselves and get the secrets out of the way first, but regardless of all that, I still want to root for the impossible to turn into the possible. I have to give it to the writer for making me feel all these emotions.
On a completely superficial side note, I love Eric's voice. I love how sound was incorporated in this drama. So ingenious, and so essential to the story. The importance of sound, emphasized through Do Kyeong's job, is beautifully expressed and creates some awesome scenes with gorgeous cinematography to top it off.
I know some viewers were in a controversy about the 'cop out'. In all honestly, when it happened, I sighed in relief. Up to then, I couldn't completely justify rooting for the OTP because it seemed wrong, in a way.
Now, side characters. If anything, I feel like the office scenes were too long, as well the drunken scenes. Less is really more. Bromance is serious in this drama. I loved it so much. The duckling squad always has DK's back no matter what. In terms of the other storylines, I really liked them. No character seemed one-dimensional; for the most part, all the characters had purpose and was fleshed out, and given a chance for redemption, to have a fresh start if they chose to take it. I appreciated that the second leads weren't purely vindictive. Circumstance made them who they are and maybe some incorrect choices took them on their path. So in that sense, I liked all the characters. Even for those that I didn't like, I didn't want them gone from this drama either because it didn't feel justified. In their own way, they added to the drama.
The songs are so appropriately fitting to the drama. Like the theme of this drama, the songs (sound) perfectly complement each and every scene. AOHY really made me fully appreciate the importance of sound (and sound directors) in dramas to enhance the whole drama experience and just in everyday life in general as well. I love this whole soundtrack- every single song! If I have to choose one, though, it's definitely 'If it is you' by Jung Seung-Hwan.
If there is one themeI learned from this drama, it is: We should live life to the fullest; pride really isn't everything. If you don't try throwing yourself out there, you might never be reciprocated. If you don't give, why do you expect to receive?
I recommend if...
-you want to see some fireworks chemistry
-you want to see some of the best kiss scenes I've ever seen in a drama
-you're ok with lots of revenge and raw, unfiltered emotion
-you like hardcore bromance and heartwarming love between family
-you're a huge romance lover (like me!) and wants to see something different and surprisingly new
If you're still on the fence about whether to watch this or not, just watch it! Don't be afraid of throwing yourself out there! (Did you get the pun? LOL) Okay, seriously, give it 4 episodes then decide whether you like it or not.
This drama has so much heart, so much depth, and just so much love. In the end, the raw emotion this drama provokes as a whole overrides the flaws this drama did have. I love you, show, and you'll stay in a heart for a while!
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This review may contain spoilers
I don't know how to say it but it took me until I watched half of the drama to become really interested. However, I think it was because I followed the previews and waited until it was nearly done airing before watching it. And thus, I recommend you to not watch/see/hear about ANY spoilers. That way, I think you'll be much more interested in this drama since the plot is pretty unpredictable. That said, there are dramas that are still like crack even when I know what happens. So there is something that is missing, a spark, an attraction in this drama for me. Set in 1989, I liked the retro vibe; the production did a good job at making sure everything was authentic-from the bb caller things to the attire. The drama also explored some delicate issues and in my opinion, it was done very well. This is my first time traveling drama and yeah, it's surprisingly kind of believably done, not extremely far-fetched.
Most of the actors are pretty new or have only been in a few dramas. Marcus Chang is cute but his acting is fresh. It makes it hard for me to become extremely invested in his character's dilemma when I feel like he is trying really hard to show his anguish. And frankly, Ivy Shao's character, Zhen Zhen got on my nerves quite a lot. She is very, very naive but at least through it all she has a lot of heart. Her character did contrast well with Chen Che so it was cutely done, just not the most innovative one out there in dramaland. There are quite a bit 'Romeo and Juliet' love line aspects so I guess that was another one of the reasons I didn't just love this show.
Negatives aside, I did like the family love shown throughout this drama more than anything. It was raw, shown especially well through the hardships the families had to face together. The drama also demonstrates that the simplest choices can result in something drastically different, which forces us- as viewers- to really think about the choices we make in our own lives and if we're making the correct choices-for both ourselves and our loved ones.
OST is nice, catchy, but not my favorite.
I don't think I would re-watch. It was a decent one-time watch but ultimately, I didn't fall in love with it. Would I recommend it though? Yeah, sure if
-you like retro vibes (the clothing, the music, the atmosphere)
-you like 'forbidden'/denial from family love lines
(7.5, 8.5)
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I thoroughly enjoyed the show's demonstration of how media and news really are. Fact is fact. You can't warp it into a distorted version of the fact. The show explores the consequences of media impact and the individualized sacrifices made along the way because of it. Pinocchio really pulled on those ideas and created a well-rounded world that was compelling to the viewer. If there was one sentence I could give Pinocchio, it would be: the truth always comes out. The theme of retribution keeps coming around throughout the drama. 'What comes around, goes around.' The audience also feels a sense of deja vu when past words comes back to haunt other characters.
Now, the main plot and dilemma. I liked how it played out. The brotherly relationship was poignant but also an explosive bomb waiting to happen because of all that has happened between them. However, although the plot is mostly pretty solid and concise, there were some aspects that felt rushed. I really wish they explored that plot line longer. The bromance and the strong sense of family got to me more than the romance which is surprising since I usually like romance dramas. Nevertheless, I appreciated that every decision, every word, said by characters had meaning; in other words, everything, for the most part, happened for a reason so there seemed to be little to no dragging.
I'm not sure why but In Na and Dal Po's chemistry just didn't click for me until around the 8th episode. I think their almost sibling-like relationship deterred me from completely falling for their chemistry.
I came in never seeing any dramas from Lee Jong Suk nor Park Shin Hye so I didn't have any bias. Shocker, I know. Lee Jong Suk's portrayal of emotions was raw and completely real. Shin Hye's character was blunt-loved her. Shin Hye made her hiccups so realistic that I almost believed Pinocchio was a real thing! Neither character outshone the other. In that respect, In Na and Dal Po complemented one another well, creating a more comfortable, rather than passionate chemistry. Because of that comfortable chemistry, their characters are always honest with each other and have complete trust in one another- it's great to watch! However, I didn't unequivocally trust their trust in each other until the 12th episode. It was then that I seriously respected In Ha and her love and trust in Dal Po.
I really liked the side characters, for the most part. In some dramas, the main couple is what keeps the drama alive. Here, the supporting cast makes the drama better, and more hilarious. I loved Cap and even the guy with the weird hair from YGN- Lee Pil Mo and Min Seung Wook respectively. I liked Jin Kyung in It's Okay that's Love but dang did she pull out acting chops here-completely amazing. Props to hyung as well, Yoon Gyun Sang; I'll definitely be on the lookout for your future works. I honestly didn't hate anyone since nearly everyone had their chance at redemption, which I wholeheartedly appreciated.
Music, unfortunately, was pretty mediocre, and forgettable.
I must say this though. I liked Pinocchio but I didn't fall in love with it. At the end of the day,though, Pinocchio is a great drama with lots of heart that explores morals, and has sincere relatable characters.
(8.5/9.5)
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The ghost story per episode didn't feel too filler to me personally. I enjoyed most of them since they were ways for the romance to develop. Some even had an emotional impact, others left a bit to be desired. There were quite a few flaws regarding the 'rules' about ghosts and their abilities, and the drama did confuse me at times because they weren't consistent. Let me ignore those flaws though! I purposely ignored those flaws and just accepted all the supernatural aspects of the drama as they were shown, which made my drama experience much better. I guess I also have to mention the rich boy, poor girl thing. Yes, you can say that the plot- on the shallowest level- is about that cliche but I think the drama builds off it with many layers.
Though I enjoyed the skinship from the very beginning, they didn't have an effect on me until a few episodes in since there wasn't enough emotional attachment. But when it finally hit me, bam! Wow, I became seriously invested. I love their relationship development so much. Whoops, did I say that already? I enjoyed seeing Joong Won's change as a person and how his sun, Gong Shil, continued to change him, bit by bit. His trust in her just kept growing and that was a pleasure to watch. Their relationship is the anchor of this drama. Without the strength and brightness of it, the drama would've fell apart.
I think if the main leads weren't Gong Hyo Jin and So Ji Sub, I wouldn't love this drama that much. They brought their characters to life and made them seem so realistic. Gong Hyo Jin, as usual, was amazingly touching. Her emotional depth through her character, Tae Gong Shil, sparked in each and every scene.
I liked the second leads. No vindictive second leads! It's always great when the second leads add fun scenes to the drama, and not detract from the drama. I really liked Secretary Kim; he was like the cupid representative of the viewers.
Lets talk about one of the main plot points: Joong Won's tragic past. Was that done well? I'm not sure to be honest. It was amped up for most of the drama, only to be hastily resolved in one episode. From the halfway point, though, I already began to disregard the plot lines and just try to go along with the story. After all, just focusing on their chemistry was must more enjoyable than trying to analyze patchy plot points.
The extension? Personally, I hated it at first because I thought Gong Shil's actions were off par with her character based on previous episodes. In retrospect, I guess I could understand why she did why she did so I can't call it noble idiocy. Nevertheless, I could've done without it, so episodes 13-16 felt like some unnecessary angst. The finale episode was done well though since it was extended, it wasn't rushed. I did like the metaphors integrated throughout the drama. In a way, they helped justify some of the Hong Sister's writing decisions, in my opinion. The metaphors also gave depth to the plot and also the the relationships. Overall, the drama came full circle at the end, so it wrapped up nicely.
The OST is amazing. Every song is perfect. Some songs are hauntingly chilling, others are emotionally touching. I even love the instrumental music, which isn't that often! Every song seamlessly fit in with the scenes.
I already started re-watching some scenes. I will definitely re-watch this. I recommend this for those who love romance like I do, and also isn't a stickler for supernatural 'rules' and how the supernatural world should and should not be. In the end, take don't Master's Sun's plot too seriously and you'll come to love what this drama offers.
(9.5,8.5)
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Acting was a little uneven. Queen Wei started out as a singer, and this is her first major role- and it showed. I just couldn't feel her emotions even when she cried with abandon. Initially, I bought their romance since Jason and Queen had decent chemistry. As the drama progressed, however, I started to root for the second leads, for Jason and Queen to both end up with different people. I honestly did not like Queen's character, An An. She is so indecisive and wishy-washy. The leads' scenes couldn't make me cry but I loved the supporting characters. They kept me from dropping the drama.
The story itself had some surprising components that made you want to continue watching as well. Story-wise, it was compelling enough I guess but the acting distracted me. Sometimes, I would be so fixated on the lack of emotion that I can't feel the emotion the drama is trying to get me to feel. That said, I do like the story as a whole and the pros overweighed the cons since I liked the overall plot arc. The side stories, for the most part, contributed to the main story.
The last episode wrapped up the drama really well though. It's definitely one of the better last drama episodes I've watched. Everything was wrapped up nicely and it gave closure!
Music was pretty good. There was one or two emotional songs that balanced well with the scenes.
Re-watch? Nah, once is good.
I recommend this drama with a grain of salt. Watch it if...
-you don't mind some mediocre acting
-you like dramas set in the entertainment industry+romance+a satisfactory ending.
-really nice bromance. In this case, I loved the bromance more than the actual romance!
(8/8)
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I'm new to the actors but they were all fantastic for me. There were no 'weak' actors at all! Ji Chang Wook was just wow. He was mesmerizing, vulnerable, the list goes on. I loved his various personas he put on as a disguise and I especially loved Bong Soo; Chang Wook played him to be so clumsy and lovable. I loved Park Min Young's character, one of my favorite heroines in a while. Shout out to Kim Mi Kyung. She was seriously amazing as the Ahjumma/skilled hacker. People love or hate Ji Tae's character, Moon Ho. Personally, I loved Moon Ho. Ji Tae played Moon Ho to be such a nuanced and faceted character that was neither 'good' nor 'evil'.
Now, the OTP. Wow, just wow. How can so much emotion be demonstrated with just a caress, a brush of the hand, and longing eyes? Somehow, Ji Chang Wook and Park Min Young are able to do that and their chemistry is just sizzling. It's palpable. It's longing. It's just plain hot. I appreciated how Yeoung Shin (ParkMinYoung) was able to stand her own (not the damsel in distress) and how she helped Jung Hoo (JiChangWook) come out from behind his mask that was Healer.
The storyline was so intricate but the web of stories blended well together. Romance didn't detract from the action, and vice versa. I enjoyed seeing how dark/dirty politics were, and the writer wrote that well, balancing it with the romance and the revenge plot. There were some episodes that were so elaborately well done that it was only near the last few minutes that everything just suddenly clicked together and made sense. Huge props to the writer of Healer-amazing!
When I finished the last episode, I was like : !!!!!!. I felt that buzz you feel after finishing marathoning an amazing drama. However, as I began to re-watch some episodes immediately after my first run through, there were flaws that even my Healer-induced craze couldn't overlook. Honestly? The last 2-3 episodes weren't great-or at least not on the caliber of the first 17 episodes. Everything felt rushed and though the ending was good, it felt glossed over. The multiple storylines that the drama had handled with finesse thus far, couldn't be tied up in the end. Some were rashly tied up, others were untied; it just wasn't as satisfactory as I had hoped it would go. Additionally, Healer lost some of his touch near the end; there weren't as many action scenes and Yeoung Shin barely appeared... That said, don't let that deter you from watching Healer because the critiques I made are minimal compared to the overall beauty that was Healer. I had to mention them though because they did distract me from completely loving this drama since I was absorbed and in love with the first 15 episodes or so. So admittedly, I felt a bit deflated after the end.
Music was lovely! There were lots of beautiful instrumentals that captured the emotions of scenes. I especially loved I Will Protect You by Ji Chang Wook himself. He has a nice voice!
I already re-watched my favorite scenes too many times. I think the second time around, though, I might fast-forward some of the political stuff though because it's no longer suspenseful since I would know what happens, and what the secrets are.
I could honestly go on and on about this drama but to sum it up...
Seriously watch it if...
-you want to see a beautiful, supportive romance that is full of trust and heart stopping romantic scenes.
-you like seeing power struggles (dirty politics)/revenge
-eye candy! (ahem Ji Chang Wook)
-no vindictive second leads
-lots of action, kind of like Mission Impossible and Ji Chang Wook is Tom Cruise in terms of the Healer going on missions.
-references to Superman and his kryptonite-and comparing that to Healer, I thought it was it was an interesting comparison.
Be prepared to be in withdrawal after the final episode. I know I still am.
If you don't fulfill any of the above, watch it anyways because that's how good Healer is. Or just watch it for Ji Chang Wook because that's a valid reason anyways! (9.75/9)
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The drama consistently messed with my brain and I had to go read detailed recaps after each episode because I always missed a detail here and there (because details are so important to notice in this drama). It's not an easy watch and you really have to pay attention in order to enjoy this drama. I also recommend widening your drama scope (I had to!) so you can brush aside all the preconceived notions you might have had about dramas. This drama borders on two parallel worlds within the characters so it might be a little hard to digest in the beginning. After 3 episodes, I got more into the drama.
Many of the characters weren't likable but I guess that's what this drama aimed at: to show the flaws of human nature, and to allow the audience to understand a bit more about mental illnesses, which is a taboo topic in many Asian countries. I have never watched any of the actors/actresses before but I have no complaints. They were all seasoned actors and the leads, Jo In Sung (Jae Yeol) and Gong Hyo Jin (Hae Soo) were both amazing in their portrayal of their emotions.
I don't think I would re-watch this because a lot of it was discovery and wouldn't be as surprising in second watch. I appreciated that this drama tried to tackle mental illnesses. Even though it may not always be medically accurate, it was still a drama that shined a positive light on mental illnesses that is very encouraging. Most importantly, this drama contained a lot of heart. I wholeheartedly recommend this drama but only if you're in the mood for a quirky romance that is about embracing one another no matter the flaws. 9/9.25
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The drama also keeps us engaged as if we're in the drama along with the characters by revealing things to us at the same time as when the characters find out themselves. The story deals with many complicated societal and emotional issues like having to deal with traditional parents, parents that abandoned their children, the list goes on. Even with all the issues, the plot feels concise and not too draggy or too rushed. This drama is extremely realistic and faces the issues head on, nothing held back, and nothing is sugar coated.
Chris Wu has an overwhelming stage presence. Whenever he's on the screen, he steals it effortlessly. His acting ability is phenomenal, and it just keeps getting better, drama after drama. His character, initially very stubborn and seemingly harsh, warms up to become vulnerable, gentle, and just a sweetheart to the female lead Xiao En (Huang Pei Jia). They never kissed (skinship :/) but their romance was so touching to watch. The supporting characters were all there for a reason. The growth of all of them was amazing to see and a dramatic change from the beginning. I loved seeing them overcome their differences and eventually become a family within their funeral parlor.
Music didn't stand out to me which is why the score isn't that high. The theme song is pretty fitting to the overall theme (lyrics-wise) the drama is trying to convey though.
I couldn't give the drama a full score because some of the clients' cases felt cut off and the transitions between the episodes weren't the best. Nevertheless, as someone who usually likes rom-coms, this drama still managed to capture my heart in the weirdest ways possible! I resorted to reading the Chinese subtitles because I don't understand the Hakka dialect. If you're in the mood for crying and laughing simultaneously, don't miss out on this meaningful drama. (9/9.25)
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Lets split the romance aspect and mystery aspect into two. The romance aspect of this drama was just terrible. I had no clue why this person liked this person, and so on and so forth. It wasn't even a love triangle, it was like a huge relationship web mess. This person liked this person but changed their mind and began to like someone else then they stopped liking that person and started crying for yet another person. Did that sentence really confuse you? Well, that's how I felt about the relationships in this show. I love romance dramas;they're literally my favorite drama. However, since the relationships in Black and WHite were so messy, I would've preferred no romance at all then or just focus on one couple. Unlike Love Me If You Dare, the romance wasn't balanced well at all.
Apart from the romance, the mystery plot was really tight and suspenseful. The show kept me guessing with them every step of the way. They wanted me to suspect one person? I totally fall for it then boom the bad guy was someone else. Is that really the truth? Nope, plot twist right ahead of you. When everything finally came together, I was mind-blown at how big the deceptive web reached. You really need to watch every episode to get all the seemingly meaningless clues that add up when you step back and finally see the whole story.
Cast was amazing. Seriously. Mark Chao and Vic Chou were both very versatile in their acting since they had to portray many conflicted emotions. Neither one is what they seem on the surface; they're the black and white, Ying Qiong (Mark) seems to be the straight laced, honorable cop while Zai Tian (Vic) seems to be the goofy, careless cop. Though true to some extent, this drama flips all their ideals around and throws them obstacle after obstacle. The female cast was strong. I loved Ivy Chen's portrayal of a misunderstood mafia's daughter. And contrary to popular opinion, I liked Sonia's character. Janine did well too. On a whole, every actor/actress fit their part perfectly.
I'm a little conflicted about the soundtrack. In some scenes where they play the upbeat songs I thought I was supposed to feel happy but the scene ended up being very serious. So although I liked the songs, they clashed with the emotions of some scenes.
In the end, I think this was a wildly unpredictable with a stellar cast, and the plot did not drag at all. On the negative side, the romance plot was too all over the place. Re-watch isn't high purely because there were so many plot twists and knowing them now, it wouldn't be as interesting the second watch around. I highly recommend this drama, especially to those drama viewers out there where you like to try and link the clues together. If you want good romance, however, this isn't the drama for you. (8.5/9)
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The plot was just all over the place. The premise was very promising and different from drama norms. I wanted to see the mafia storyline play a big part. Not only did the drama water down the mafia, it wasn't really utilized consistently through out the story. When it was used, it felt extremely unrealistic.
The saving grace was definitely the actors. I appreciated how the director/writer wanted to show how love can surpass society expectations and gender restrictions. Baron and Megan's chemistry was definitely capable of portraying their love. Like wow, seriously off the charts sparks flying between them. And the make out scenes in this drama are some of the most intense I've ever seen in a drama. Definitely very hot and heavy for drama level. However...the choppiness of the plot and the dragging still made my drama experience with Bromance less enjoyable than it could've been.
This is Bii's first huge role in a drama. Though I like him as a singer, his acting skills still need some sharpening. He's cute but his expression is very singular throughout the drama. I wanted to like his relationship with Nana because visually they were gorgeous together. However, the love/attraction the drama was trying to show us between them just didn't come through effectively. Katie Chen (Nana) is trying her best to show her love for Qing Yang (Bii) but she's countered by Bii's cool expression. It just didn't work for me- as much as I wanted to love them. I think Bii just needs some more practice then he'll be a more emotional actor.
The other actors were pretty well cast as well. I actually really wanted to see more interactions between Zi Han (Mandy Tao) and Guang Chao (Ming Wei); they're really cute together. Shout out to Edison Wang, who plays main protagonist. He has improved tremendously from Be With You and he is super convincing as the bad guy.
As usual, Bii's soundtracks are lovely and the songs were emotional.
I wouldn't re-watch this, hence the low re-watch value rating. Regardless, I still recommend this drama if just to see Baron and Megan flirt HARD and their amazing chemistry behind the scenes as well. (8/9)
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The first few episodes felt forced, like the director was trying to make the scenes unique by switching rapidly between past, present, and imagination scenes. By the 4th episode, however, I was hooked. The editing became much more smooth and the transitions between the different scenes started to make more sense towards to plot. The double meaning of the title is true to the plot- b*tchy women and the 'must marry' woman. The story explores both themes.
Story: The whole revenge plot in the first half of the drama was refreshing and definitely something new to watch. It set up many misunderstandings that while on the surface seem to be obstacles for the sake of having obstacles (in other words, 'dragging'), the misunderstandings were very uniquely directed and slowly revealed the characters' inner thoughts/motives. The interactions between Huan Zhen (Alice) and Hao Meng (Roy) of calling each others bluff were hilarious and full of chemistry. I loved watching Huan Zhen and Hao Meng's journey of falling in love.
Alice Ke and Roy Chiu finally collaborate again and their chemistry is still spot on! I find it hard to compare Marry Me or Not to Office Girls because the characters they portray are completely different. If Office Girls had a more chaste and cute vibe, Marry Me or Not is like the mature and sizzling version. I think Alice's acting was more natural in Office Girls but her crying scenes have improved immensely in Marry me or Not. Roy Chiu hasn't changed a bit; his crying scenes still get to me. The directing and cinematography in this drama was gorgeous and the date/deep talk scenes were so different than the norm. No cliche stuff here in that regard!
The supporting cast was great, no complaints at all. The office cast was adorable but didn't really stand out to me. Sheng Nan (Joanne Tseng) and Hao Meng's (Roy Chiu) sibling love was done so well and I loved how their relationship was portrayed. Many viewers disliked Sheng Nan but honestly I don't know how I'll act if I was so in love like she was. She's the perfect example of love can make you blind and do stupid things. But because of that, her character was so real that you could relate to her and that made her character come to life. The parents of Hao Meng and Huan Zhen (Alice Ke) were stark contrasts. One was in an 'unloving' relationship while the other was very much in love. Their respective marriages were a form of symbolism for the different kinds of romantic love and the director used that to set up the main plot between Hao Meng and Huan Zhen. Now, the other male lead, Qian Yao (Harry Chang), is the most 'evil'; character in this drama. Nevertheless, I still liked him and Harry portrayed this faceted, flawed character well.
Amazingly, there were no seriously vindictive second leads at all in this drama. Rather, their worst enemy was themselves and their pride. For those of you out there that didn't like this drama as much as I did, I do think that connecting to the characters in a drama really helps the relatability of a drama. Unfortunately, there are still some family problems in this drama but it doesn't detract from the drama- it actually unveils more understanding. I think a huge part of this drama was understanding the different forms of love and also understanding yourself when you're in love. Honestly, this drama taught me so many life lessons and although there were a few bumps along the way plot-wise, I still think this drama showed a lot of heart. Dramas like this, with lots of inner monologues, are hard done well because they can get boring but not only does Marry Me or Not keep them interesting, but they add so much to the episodes. Seriously, I cried too many times.
Music: The soundtrack was well rounded. There are lively upbeat songs, and super emotionally wrecking songs. A little something for everyone. I loved this soundtrack, even for my high drama ost standards. My favorites are Lost Heartbeat and the song sang by Joanne Tseng, also known as Sheng Nan in the drama! I listened to the soundtrack so much that I started to notice the lyrics for many of the songs correspond with the plot perfectly and describe many of the characters really well.
This drama kind of reminded me of the famous T-drama, In Time With You, not just because Li Da Ren (Chen Bo Lin) cameoed for a small part but also because this drama is more about mature, thoughtful, retrospective, love, not innocent fluffy young love. The monologues and self reflection scenes were also very reminiscent of some In Time With You scenes, but definitely still different. I wholeheartedly recommend this drama even for those people who don't like T-dramas because this drama felt completely different from the usual T-dramas I watched. Since I already re-watched a few episodes, I would assume the re-watch value is high! I most definitely recommend this drama for those romantics out there (like me!) and those looking for a incredibly well done drama that feels very fresh and has fantastic acting all around. (10/9.5)
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Now, I like Sonia but she was so stiff and irritating in maybe the first half. Her chemistry with Tony Yang got much better in the second half but for the most part, I personally just didn't see it. Maybe it was because the story didn't pull me in? The second couple, aka the respective ex's, was alright. I mean, nothing special about them either. The supporting cast was pretty cute- I liked An Lei's (Sonia) tight friendship with her two friends and An Lei's family was convincing in wanting to marry their daughter off.
The directing and the retrospective musing was creative but sometimes the inner monologues became too long and rather detracted from the overall plot.
Some of the music was lovely but didn't really stand out to me for the most part.
No re-watch for me although I would recommend it to those people looking for a slow romance that develops from strangers, to co-inhabitants, to friends, to finally lovers, and also to those who like dramas revolving around ex's, and getting over them, then finding new love. (6/7.25)
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The first half of the drama or so was wonderfully built up. Though the premise of this drama seemed cliche and simple, the execution was smooth and not boring-mostly because of the leads. This drama seemed to be a Cinderella story-poor girl falls in love with the rich prince and vice versa but this drama was a journey of growth for both the leads, and how they became stronger together than apart. They became better because of each other. Although there were many obstacles in their journey, they were able to overcome it and come out stronger than ever. Their romance didn't feel deliberate at all. From strangers, to co-workers, to friends, and finally to lovers- the progression seemed realistic and it was just warming to watch.
I have to say I got a little bit annoyed the second half with the antagonist, Kai Er (Tia Li). Tia actually acted really well here-more emotions than in Fall in Love With Me anyways. I agree with many viewers that this drama stumbled a bit in the second half but I still enjoyed it immensely. (I did fast forward some Kai Er scenes though...) Patrick Li was amazing here-over the top hilarious. This drama demonstrated Taiwanese humor at its best although it was a little much sometimes. Shi Te Long (Patrick Li) added a lot of needed laughs to this drama though; he was like a comic character come to life! His bromance with Zi Qi was amusing; the sarcasm they throw to each other is entertaining to watch.
Some people weren't satisfied with the plot because Office Girls didn't feel like it was really about Office Girls in the second half. It became more about the relationship issues. I think if you can look past that and go into this drama knowing the focus is more on the relationship and the office is just a surrounding issue/environment, you'll find it easier to watch. The office dynamics were really funny and eventually you see that the co-workers really care about one another, proving that there really can be real friends in a work environment. Of course, there's always someone that will backstab you for every good person there is. I think this drama showed the nuances of the competitiveness of office life pretty well. Now, differences in social class does eventually come into play which is why I said this drama dragged in the second half. The overwhelmingly entertaining first half definitely overrode the slight disappointment I had with the second half, and the ending kind of made up for it as well.
Music was lovely-I downloaded the OST. The music complemented all the scenes very well, especially the emotionally heart-wrenching ones.
I think I'll re-watch some of the scenes, and maybe all of it again later because at 25 episodes it's pretty long for a SETTV drama. Now I'm off to watching Marry me or Not-hopefully Alice and Roy will have explosive chemistry there as well! Again, I recommend this drama a lot; it's full of laughter, romance, and heart. Don't miss it. (10/9)
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The first 1/3rd of the drama kind of felt like a prologue to the second half because the second half felt like the main story. I liked the organization of this drama and the romance developed between the leads felt subtle, smooth, and not deliberate.The drama started with a competition and the drama ends with a competition, wrapping up the drama very well with no loose ends. The drama was extended and though the extension prolonged the inevitable ending, it gave more time to fully explore the students' romantic relationships. Thus, I thought the extension did more good than bad. Most of this drama focused on the development of the romance between the leads, the daily obstacles of high school life as a high school student, and the complications that go with being a teacher/high schooler.
I seriously loved the cast. There was no annoying antagonist at all, no revenge plot, barely any love triangles, and no disapproving parents. Nita Lei was amazing in this drama; she is the best friend I never had-crazy, hilarious, and caring. Huge props to her acting. What made this drama shine were the student storylines and of course Lego's fantastic portrayal as a teacher. Han Jie (Lego) drastically changed after meeting Xiao Rou (Allison Lin. Xiao Rou also changed after being with Han Jie. Their love for one another made them change for one another.
Soundtrack was fabulous-the songs were so catchy and appropriately used.
I definitely recommend this drama. There's barely any angst in Love Cuisine so it's a very light-hearted drama that's easy to watch. I think a lot of people didn't enjoy this drama as much as I did because the problems/obstacles felt trivial since there's no love triangles/vindictive antagonists so it became boring. However, that's what made Love Cuisine so easy to watch! If you want to laugh in every episode, watch this! (9/8.5)
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The story was unrealistic even for drama standards because family vendettas are hard to overcome and a 10 pm curfew for an adult is ridiculous.The synopsis given for this drama is mostly the first half of the drama. Towards the end, it got draggy but the main couples' love never flagged for one another. Even though it was unrealistic, I still enjoyed the ride because George Hu and Annie Chen really have great chemistry; they're super comfortable around each other and this shines in the BTS as well.
One thing that really stood out to me about this drama was the fact that there were virtually no love triangles. There were second male and female leads but they were no threat to the main couple at all. There were basically no antagonists. The main conflict in this drama was the family vendetta and disapproving parents. The supporting cast was cute; we have the funny guy, the best friend, etc. The second main couple, Ying Ying and Zhe Xuan had a hilarious first meeting and their romantic development was cute. I started to really looking forward to their scenes together.
This is alright for an one time watch but I wouldn't re-watch this. I watched this purely for George and Annie because I loved them in Love Now. Do I recommend this? Yes, if you like George and Annie. Yes, if you hate love triangles. No, if you want skinship and no, if you hate huge family issues that take up almost half the drama. I don't regret watching this but I wouldn't recommend it to everyone either because not everyone would like this drama. (8/7)
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