1
manicmuse
NYC!
The cast really was amazing... mostly. The chemistry between all the characters kept me engaged, even when the plot was a little wtf. There were some moments when the acting was so over the top that it was comical, which probably has a lot to do with the style of drama, so that's the only reason I didn't give the acting/cast a 10.
Hwang Jung Eum's spunk in other dramas makes sense to me now. Even though Kill Me, Heal Me is one of my drama favorites, this is definitely a close second for my favorite role I've seen her in. Honestly, her perky personality can be a little annoying, but it was perfect for portraying Woo Ri. Then there's Kim Jae Won, with that cute smile - the kind of smile that makes me smile involuntarily. I adored the way he played Dong Joo without milking the role for sympathy. I also have to applaud the writers for making him a strong character, and not just a victim. In fact, neither were victims, which was refreshing. I couldn't get enough of their chemistry too. They had so many instant rewind-worthy cute scenes. They really were a great, and believable, match.
It would take too long to sing the whole cast's praises, but honorable mentions to Nam Gung Min as moody Ma Roo, Lee Hye Young as "Mommy Dearest" Tae Hyun Sook, forever friendzoned Lee Kyu Han as Seung Chul (will he ever get the girl?), Yoon Yeo Jeong as potty mouth halmeoni, and the perfectly cast younger versions... The only cast member I didn't like was Kang Moon Young, who's face was honestly distracting, and her character Shin Ae was one note until the very end. The True MVP of the cast is Jeong Bo Seok as Bong Young Kyu. I wasn't sure what to make of the character at first, but by the end he was the character that made me cry, and laugh, and showed unexpected depth. I would rate his acting well above a 10.
The writers did a great job keeping the show entertaining from start to finish. The drama itself is part love story and part corporate family drama. The love story, from the very beginning, had me hooked because it was so sweet. It had the obvious obstacles that happen in most kdrama romances, but the real focus was on their connection, and support for each other, which made me love their relationship more. The corporate drama, which normally I start to zone out on, actually kept me engaged too, because of Cha Dong Joo and Jang Joon Ha's bromance. Backstabbing, jealousy, and revenge can get pretty boring when the characters are shallow, but because the relationships were so strong, I was totally engaged. That's why I gave this drama a high rewatch value. I could definitely see myself watching this again.
I will also give music a 10 because it plays such a huge part in the story. Music brings Dong Joo and Woo Ri together. Music is how the family gets through hard times. It's not that the soundtrack is exceptional as much as how much the music connected me more to the drama. One scene where Dong Joo sings is a perfect example of how a song doesn't have to be beautiful to convey a beautiful moment.
Overall, the theme of this drama is family, the kind of family that goes far beyond blood relationships. It conveys that in beautiful, touching, and bizarre ways (Kim Yeo Jin, I'm looking at you). With that theme in mind, there were no lost moments in this drama for me, and even the ridiculous started to make sense. The final episode is where the theme really hit home for me, and the ending was absolutely perfect.
This drama is probably not for everyone, and is a pretty big commitment, but I would recommend people giving it a try. I know I am now no longer going to avoid a drama based simply on episode count, because time flies when you're having fun (even when "fun" means crying your eyes out, or yelling at the screen).
This is the kind of drama that you can't enjoy if you watch it with a logical brain, you have to watch it with an open heart to really enjoy it.
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Song Joong Ki is now one of my favorite actors. I loved him in Sungkyunkwan Scandal, and I am shocked by how different he is in this drama. I loved seeing him go from innocent optimist to master manipulator as Kang Ma Roo. I liked never quite knowing his character's intentions, yet he always stayed true to character. He was well matched with Moon Chae-won, who had an equally challenging character to portray. This is the 3rd drama I've seen her in, yet she was unrecognizable at first. I think that is the sign of a truly great actress. They played off of each other well, though one shouldn't expect too much cute chemistry. The romance in this is very heavy, which brings me to Park Si-yeon's role. She does a good job as the easy to hate Han Jae Hee, without making her character too one-note. The characters have enough flaws and redeeming qualities to make their love triangle intense.
The supporting cast is great as well. Lee Kwang Soo & Lee Yoo Bi, as Jae Gil & Choko, had the tough job of bringing some light moments to this intense drama. I also liked Lee Sang Yeob, who was great, but more subtle in his role as Lawyer Park.
My opinion about the music is mixed. I thought it complimented the story well, but one of the main songs sounded a little to close to one of the songs from "Secret Garden". The music wasn't original enough to get higher than a good rating from me.
Overall, I was very entertained by this drama. I can't agree that it's one of the best, but I can't think of many flaws. The only glaring issue I had with this drama was the overuse of flashbacks. Every episode seemed to rely on multiple flashbacks. Sometimes they even flashed back to the previous scene... and more than once. I had to take a story point away for that. After a while it seemed like time filler, not a storytelling device.
I don't think I would watch this again, only because much of the excitement for me was about guessing what would happen next. This drama kept me guessing until the very last moment, and no, I was not disappointed with the ending. I think the slight change in style made sense in the context of what was going on. I was also satisfied with the closure given to the main characters. I'll even forgive Eun Gi for being so ridiculously blind!!! I'll blame that on the accident. lol.
If I do eventually watch it again it will be for Song Joong Ki's performance.
This is an intense, emotional, romantic, melodrama, though I didn't cry at all. For fans of that style, this is a must see. I'd also recommend it to anyone bored by dramas being too predictable. "Innocent Man" won't disappoint you.
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The math just didn't math.
It's been a while since I completed a drama that I disliked this much. I started watching without expectations, and even though I knew the extreme study culture storyline would be hard for me to relate to I was open. The pressure the students faced and the young actors' performances turned out to be the best part of this show. Unfortunately, this drama gets failing marks in all other categories. The romance plot was dated and stale. The mystery plot was comically bad. I really wanted to root for this aunt who shifted her whole life to raise her niece but instead, I watched the same petty rants and schemes from entitled parents, I watched two clearly older romantic leads acting like awkward children dating, and that was honestly more annoying than wholesome, and I watched the most unnecessary thriller plot that I still don't quite understand. And I still kept watching.Jeon Do Yeon plays Nam Haeng Seon, our supposedly strong and super athletic lead who too often for me was passive and boring. I know many people have complained about her age, but I'm not sure that's why her character felt off to me. She and her bff played by Lee Bong Ryun were surely meant to seem less sophisticated compared to the other women characters, but that should not mean being bland. She is matched with Jung Kyung Ho who plays Choi Chi Yeol a supposedly super dynamic rock star teacher who was also cheesy and bland. The backstory provides a perfectly reasonable explanation as to why these 2 fall for each other but I just didn't believe it based on their interactions. Their romantic moments seemed forced. Their smiles at each other seemed super fake. Teacher Choi's high kicks were so ridiculous that they made his motivational teacher brand seem less believable. I totally understand the writer's intentions with the lead characters but they just didn't work for me.
If I'm honest, my favorite performances were Roh Yoon Seo as Hae Yi and her friends, and Oh Eui Shik as Jae Woo. Jae Woo was really a weird comic relief character throughout, but he still managed to create a believable and likable character... one of the few. The rest of the characters, mainly obsessed parents and rival students, were too extreme to feel real at all until the very last episodes. Maybe the extreme parts were meat for laughs but I wasn't laughing. And don't get me started on the random murder/suicide plot that never seemed to really fit at all. They clearly gave up on that plot based on its conclusion.
Would I watch this again? Absolutely not. I don't even know what kept me watching until the end. I think part of me kept hoping to connect to the characters or for the story to start making sense but eventually, I was just waiting for it to finally end.
Overall, this drama gets a hard pass from me, and I don't mean a passing grade. Maybe people who can relate to this kind of pressure to get the top grades or go to the highest-ranked schools will relate a little more but that won't make the writing any better. Sure, it ends well, as far as closure for the characters, but the end also felt too simplistic and too dragged out. I was watching the clock for the last 30 mins. Maybe for some watching the banter between an unconventional family or a different kind of couple may be enough to keep them engaged, but I wish this drama went on fewer tangents and developed the two leads enough to carry the whole story. Maybe if you want a drama with a more retro feel then you can find some charm in "Crash Course in Romance". Me? I can't recommend this drama or understand its high rating. The math just didn't math for me.
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This drama is primarily a crime thriller. It claims to be adapted from "Memories of Murder", but I saw that movie, and the two only seem to relate on a surface level. What this show really focuses on are unsolved cold cases, and it uses a mysterious partnership between an ambitious cop from the past and a cynical cop from the present to attempt to solve them. The idea of manipulating the past to change the future is not new in KDramaland, but it is hard to do well, and this show manages to do it very well.
Much of the show's appeal comes from the 3 main characters, and the actors who play them. Jo Jin Woong as Lee Jae Han is the ultimate everyman hero. His determination is inspiring, and frustrating to watch. He brought a humanity to the idea of what it takes to be an effective cop. Then there is Lee Je Hoon as Park Hae Yeong, another character with a lot of depth. I loved watching him go from being a cynical know-it-all to going above and beyond. I think his character was so well written, and liked that the more I learned about his backstory, the more I connected to his choices and actions. Then lastly there's Kim Hye Soo as Cha Soo Hyun. I love that she is a total bad@ss. I will admit that I was definitely more of a fan of her in present day, although I understand showing her transformation from how she started out. Watching their frustration, eagerness, regret, stubbornness, impetuousness, tears... made me have so much empathy for their characters, even though I didn't cry even once (and I am a cry baby).
The supporting cast is good, really good, even when their characters aren't the most likable. The cases themselves were also all interesting, which means I was never bored.
Although there are romantic aspects to the plot, it's the partnership chemistry that drives the show, so reviews that call this a "romance" aren't really accurate. I will admit that I was more into the chemistry between Cha Soo Hyun and Park Hae Yeong, than her chemistry with Lee Jae Han. Some of the scenes when she was a rookie made her seem a little like an emo-stalker, which didn't seem as cute to me as it was meant to seem. I think their past was the only weak part in the plot for me, and although I understand why it was written that way, it made it seem like she was always overreacting when it came to her senior. Meanwhile, I wonder if I was the only one who sensed some kind of unspoken attraction between her and Hae Yeong. Fine, Was it just me? Wishful thinking? lol. Either way, I thought they worked really well together.
I saw that some people complained about plot holes, which you will always find if you look hard enough. I thought this show did an excellent job of tying up loose ends, avoiding useless scenes, and answering questions. It may be confusing in the beginning, but it soon starts to make perfect sense. There are a few things that are left open ended, or without explanation, but I think keeping a little bit of mystery added to the story. The fact that the story is so cohesive is why I gave it such a high rewatch rating. I think it would be cool to see the whole thing again, now that I know whats's going on, and my guess is that I will see things differently than I did the first time, which is my favorite reason to rewatch anything.
It's also not all depressing, or gruesome. They actually manage to find places to add some comedy, without it being glaringly inappropriate (well, there are the obligatory fart jokes... )
I should mention too that the OST fit the show very well, complimenting the atmosphere, but it's not something I feel compelled to listen to on it's own.
Overall, this is a must see for any thriller fan, but still has enough appeal to convert fans of other genres. I don't agree that it's the greatest drama ever, or the most original ( I saw "Frequency"), but the fact that it has so many fans makes complete sense. This is one of those shows that it's really difficult to find fault with. From the very first episode I was sucked in, and I had to keep watching 3 more episodes just to see what happened next. This is the kind of drama that can make you lose sleep, because once one thing is resolved, a new equally/more interesting scenario begins. It's that way up to the very last episode, so I understand people being excited about a possible season 2. I know I would watch!
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So, what do I hate that "Mask" did so well? We all know in KDramaland that ridiculous coincidences will most likely happen. People often meet in the exact right spot, or miss each other by seconds, or just happen to overhear something they needed to know, or have the exact right thing for the exact right moment... This drama's plot is 99% coincidences. Even how the doppelgänger scenario is introduced is way too coincidental. This usually drives me crazy, because it makes everything so unrealistic, but in Mask's case it didn't matter to me. The more random the coincidence, the more frustrated I got, and the more addicted to the plot I became. Maybe because it adds an element of literally anything might/could happen. The 20 episodes flew by because I was so addicted to finding out what was going to happen next.
The second thing that drives me insane are dumb leads. I spent much of this drama wanting to reach through the screen and slap characters, or shake some sense into them. This usually turns me off to a drama, but in this case I had to keep watching. I will admit that I liked the villains more than the leads. Don't get me wrong, I liked Min Woo and the wife known as Eun Ha's chemistry, and love story, but I still preferred the bad guys, even if I didn't want them to win.
I think the cast did a great job. Soo Ae was good at looking tortured by guilt, or being overcome with grief, while also shining a killer smile once in a while. Be warned that the smiles are not often. She looks depressed for the majority of the show, but with what happens, how can you blame her? Then there's the equally straight-faced Joo Ji Hoon, the obligatory socially awkward rich guy with a short fuse, and issues from childhood. Of course he is still totally crushable and sympathetic as the show progresses. I had totally forgotten what dramas I had seen the two of them in before (he in "Goong" ,and her in "9 end 2 Outs") because they are so much more mature now. Their matter of fact romantic banter was cute, but I did wish there were more romantic moments that weren't so stiff (there are maybe 3 I can think of total). And why did they insist on going to sleep in full outfits? Dude was wearing a sweater??!!! *sigh*... Instead they do a lot of staring, which felt like such a tease. It is still a very touching love story, but there are more emotionally touching moments than butterfly moments.
Now about those villains... I did love to hate the loan shark, but the true power couple from hell is Mi Yeon and Seok Hoon. Yoo In Young plays the most man thirsty woman in the history of KDrama. I just finished watching her be the jealous beyotch in "Oh My Venus", but this jealous beyotch character suited her much better. She was also the one character, in all of this drama's madness, that actually made me cry at all. Then there's Yeon Jung Hoon, the true MVP of evil. I kept rooting for his evil plans, because even though he is basically a sociopath, I respected his intelligence and commitment to revenge. He was my favorite of the cast, so I guess it's about time I check out "Vampire Prosecutor"
Now, would I watch this again? Doubtful. Most of the excitement of this drama was guessing what would happen next. I do recommend it though, especially if you are looking for something extremely melodramatic! There were times when I laughed inappropriately when I should have been sad, or concerned, or times when I cursed loudly at the screen, but there was not one single moment when I was bored. It's a 20 episode drama that I marathoned through faster than some shorter dramas. I'm not sure I would have been able to handle the stress of watching it live and waiting for episodes.
This is a lose sleep kind of drama. Even the last episode threw in some new twists, while still making sure everything was resolved in the end. I'm glad my early misgivings about KDrama tropes didn't make me stop watching. "Mask" really was more addictively entertaining than I ever would have expected.
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Ahn Jae Hyeon plays the vampire doc Park Ji Sang, and he does a good job coming across as cold, and wise, yet eternally youthful ... which makes him a good pick for a vampire I guess. His costar Goo Hye Sun plays his rival turned love interest, and I thought she was pretty good playing the arrogant Yoo Ri Ta. I actually thought they both did a fine job bringing their characters to life, though neither was particularly charming (even with his occasional smirk). The major problem for me was their complete lack of any chemistry whatsoever. Zero. Nada. If they kissed, which I think they did, I totally forgot it, because that's how much I cared. I wanted to see two cold characters warm up to each other and eventually heat up the screen. Instead I saw two actors sometimes hug, and suddenly I'm supposed to believe they are in love. Well, I didn't, which ruins the epic fairytale romance idea that a lot of the story was counting on. As a romance, this failed miserably for me.
As for the rest of the cast, one of my favorite characters was Jung Hae In, who I would have liked to see have more screen time (even if that meant seeing more of the stupid robot). He should have been a way more important character to the story overall, but instead he's comic relief until those few moments when he briefly explains something, or he's used for bait. His backstory even seemed like it was thrown in at the last minute. Plus his romance was much more believable than the main couple, and more fun to watch. How poorly they treated his story line is my main reason for turning on this drama completely, but I'll try to focus on a few more positives before I trash the show completely.
The show's real star is Ji Jin Hee. He's complicated, awesome to watch, kept me in suspense, and is the main reason I kept watching. I also felt similarly about Son Soo Hyeon. She even has better chemistry with the leading man than Goo Hye Sun does. I won't go into details about either character, because I don't want to spoil the best part of the show in my opinion. Some of the patient stories were entertaining, but I'll say that without these two actors I would have dropped Blood a long time ago.
The rest of the cast was fine, did their best with what was written, and made the sloppiest parts of the story at least watchable. I gave the story 5 out of 10 because although it was a great idea, what was written was disjointed, overly complicated, and at some points completely ridiculous. The over the top music did not help either. During the last few episodes smart characters suddenly did the stupidest things, secrets seemed to be revealed just for shock value, and none of the complicated concepts introduced were ever explained or resolved in a way that made any sense. Several times the story aims to make the audience cry - like use a whole tissue box cry - but instead I literally watched those episodes with a dry eyed blank stare, and the entire last episode with a confused look. This is one of the worst KDrama endings I've seen in a while, and so much suspense was built up in the first half, and well, that by the time I got to the last episodes I was majorly disappointed.
Overall this drama starts off interesting, peeks your interest enough to keep you watching, but goes completely down hill and off the track by the end. I know some people like the idea that a drama may come back with a second season, but I would have preferred a satisfying ending, or at least one that made sense.
As for whether or not you should watch Blood... I say skip it. I know I wouldn't watch it again. It's not terrible, but it's not good. It fails as a romance. It's not well conceived as a suspense story. It gets kinda boring for a hospital drama too... in fact it's like they forgot all bout the hospital at the end which makes no sense since about 90% of the drama takes place there. Maybe this would have been better as a movie, and stretching the story to 20 episodes is what made it so bad. There are way too many vampire stories out there to waste time on a bad one, and this one definitely... (wait for it) ...sucked!
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The first thing that stuck out to me is the fact that the main character, Jang Hye Sung, is not a very likable person, yet she's a completely relatable character. I realized early on that these characters wouldn't be so cliché, which really peaked my interest. Interesting characters in an interesting story is the perfect recipe for a really great/memorable drama. I Hear Your Voice was mostly that... yes, I said mostly. There were a few things that stopped me from agreeing with the mostly 10 rating reviews, but I believe the good in this drama heavily outweighs the bad.
The whole cast was great. Lee Jong Suk and Lee Bo Young worked well as a couple, in spite of the huge gap in age. Lee Jong Suk was totally believable as the wise beyond his years Park Soo Ha (though sometimes more emotionally flat than cool). It's pretty similar attitude-wise to his role in Secret Garden, but this time he gets to shine as the leading man, while Yoon Sang Hyun takes a back seat.
Yoon Sang Hyun's Cha Kwan Woo on the other hand is the antithesis of his role as Oska. Cha Kwan Woo is super idealistic and a bit of a doormat, and his dynamic with the sometimes bullying and pessimistic Jang Hye Sung was kind of a refreshing change from the K-Drama norm. It was like the typical K-Drama gender stereotypes were reversed (he's even the one to get the makeover lol).
The three of them made an entertaining love triangle, though the love story did start to drag after a while. I loved the initial chemistry between Park Soo Ha and Jang Hye Sung, but I will admit that towards the end I became less interested in them as a couple. The characters remained strong, and interesting in spite of this. I don't blame the characters, it's more the fault of the somewhat repetitive romance plot.
Jang Hye Sung and Seo Do Yeon's rivalry was just as engaging as the love triangle, sometimes more so. Both characters were strong willed to the extreme, which made their vulnerable moments even more heartbreaking. I really enjoyed their anti-bff storyline.
My two favorite characters however were not any of the leads. Although I loved the leads, and the whole supporting cast, there were two cast members that were the true stars in my opinion.
Jung Woong In was such an amazingly sinister villain. As Min Joon Kook he really scared the crap out of me (which is pretty hard to do), and unlike the average cartoony K-Drama villain, his character had depth which made him even creepier.
The other stand out to me was Kim Hae Sook, who played Jang Hye Sung's mother. I loved the dynamic between mother and daughter, and one scene of hers in particular left me completely devastated. After watching her in this she has officially earned a spot in my top K-Drama actresses list (also see her in Cain & Abel, and definitely in Hotel King).
I gave the story a lower score than most, because I did completely drop this drama at one point. There's a point in the story where is takes a completely different turn, which I guess is better than being predictable, but I started to completely lose interest. After a while I decided to give it a second chance, and the reason I gave this a higher rewatch score is that I watched it again from the beginning and was completely sucked back into the story. I'm glad I made that decision because the story goes in so many interesting directions.
Like most dramas, the story started to drag a little at the end, but not enough to make me stop watching a second time. The writers also deserve a lot of credit for not leaving annoying loose ends in such a complicated story. The beginning was much stronger to me, but In the end I was not disappointed.
Oh, and the music. So many of the OST songs annoyed me. The songs in general are probably not as bad as my score, but hearing them over and over again was borderline torture.
I know I mentioned Secret Garden a lot in this review, but It was cool to see Yoon Sang Hyun & Lee Jong Suk in another drama together (since SG is one of my all time favorite dramas). Both I Hear your Voice and Secret Garden are also similar in how they successfully weave the supernatural elements into the story. I think a fan of one may also like the other.
Overall this is one of those dramas that has a little something for every K-Drama fan. There's the increasingly popular older woman younger man couple craze for romance fans (shout out to all the cradle robbing Ajummas!), There are plot twists for fans of suspense, There are cry worthy moments for drama fans, There's a bit of a tragic super hero story, There are court cases for those interested in the Korean legal system, There's some epic revenge for thriller fans... I Hear Your Voice really does attempt to take on a lot of genres!
I really would recommend giving this drama a try, and if you do watch, and find yourself ready to drop it halfway, I strongly recommend hanging in there a little longer. It may not live up to all the review hype, but I think the fact that it has so many enthusiastic fans makes total sense. At the very least, it's not just more of the same, which already puts it ahead of many dramas.
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The title already warns the viewer about what kind of relationship to expect, but it was even worse than I thought. This is sibling rivalry, and jealousy, at it's most toxic. There are some sweet, & amusing, moments, but it's mainly a revenge drama. Those in the mood for comedy should know that Lee Cho in's story is a depressing one.
The reason to watch this is So Ji Sub. He's intense, heartbreaking, charming, and he thankfully likes to linger in the shower ; ) I had no interest in watching an extreme hospital drama, which this show basically is, but he grabbed my interest from the start. As Cho In, he goes through an intense emotional transformation, and the beauty of his performance is the complexity in it. When parts of this drama became a little too over the top for me, So Ji Sub would bring just as much excitement while keeping it grounded in his honest portrayal. From episode 1- 20 he reminded me why he is one of my favorites. But seriously, did they really have to shoot him in the head AGAIN? And that's just the beginning...
I would definitely rate So Ji Sub's acting as a 10, but I had mixed feelings about the rest of the cast.
Shin Hyun Joon as Lee Seon-Woo, plays a worthy evil rival. I blame writers for giving his character barely any room for sympathy, but his performance was strong. I think he occasionally relied too much on wild eyed-stares, which sometimes came across as overacting. Overall I'd still give his performance a 9. He has one scene in particular, with So Ji Sub, towards the end of the series, that was absolutely heartbreaking. Their relationship is the core of this show, so his ability to match So Ji Sub's intensity is a huge plus.
In general, the evil characters are written to be cartoonishly evil, so over acting can' t be blamed on the actors. The biggest victim of this is Kim Hae Sook, who's character only makes sense if she is a violent sociopath. The same goes for Baek Seung Hyun as Choi Chi Soo. Their performances do add to the suspense, but I found their actions too unbelievable, even for K-Drama. They definitely portray characters that you can hate completely, but they were also let off the hook too easily, and way too many times, for my taste.
Out of the supporting cast I loved Lee Cho In's bromance with Oh Kang Chul. They share a lot of great action moments together, and touching bonding scenes. I also love the cute relationship between Drs Kim Hyun Joo & Kim Jin Geun, which added some much needed light moments. The most underrated performance is definitely Jang Yong, who had some great acting moments using just his eyes & finger.
I had mixed emotions about Han Ji Min as Oh Young Ji. I liked her chemistry with So Ji Sub from the start, and that it walked a fine line between flirty, and almost platonic playfulness. Eventually I grew bored with her being wide-eyed, and naive. For a character who was supposed to be so street smart, defected from the North, and survived on her own, she seemed way too dumb. At the same time, her innocence was sometimes cute when she was the victim of Cho In's spontaneous charm, and a few of their romantic moments are worth rewatching. This is also the first time I've seen her have a first kiss scene that didn't completely suck. That must be the power of So Ji Sub! lol.
The most disappointing character to me was Chae Jung Ahn as Kim Seo Yeon. She hit all the emotional notes, and cried very well, but she bored me. This is surprising since, unlike many of the other character's, Kim Seo Yeon was actually written with some depth. Her opening "love" scenes with Cho In felt flat, and lacked any chemistry. Her moments with Seon-Woo were written to move me, but they didn't. He seemed more like her stalker than someone she actually cared about. The fact that I didn't like her character, made the whole love triangle/square storyline a lot less effective for me.
I'm still not sure about recommending this drama or not. As much as I have complained about the writing, I must say that both the direction, and the soundtrack, are great! Fans of suspense may want to check this out, because the excitement over the uncertainty of what will happen next is consistent from beginning to end. Fans of So Ji Sub should definitely watch this because it's imperfections are worth sitting through in order to watch him be awesome for 20 episodes. I admit that I was never bored, but If another actor was in So Ji Sub's place I probably would have dropped it early on. I also can't see myself watching this again, unless I'm in desperate need of a So Ji Sub fix.
Wait, have I mentioned that I really like So Ji Sub? ; p
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Unlike the majority of reviewers, I cannot call this drama the best of the year. In my opinion it was good, but not great.
I didn't really like the direction. I found the split screens to be distracting. It did work well during some of the final scenes, but it mostly felt heavy handed. To me, it was a gimmick that was overused.
As far as the story is concerned, I think it was well written. There will always be holes that you can nitpick about in time travel stories (like how did he always manage to steal clothes that fit him perfectly???), but this drama does a good job of making a farfetched premise believable. Queen In Hyun's Man also spends a pretty even amount of time in both the past and the present, and balances romcom with historical drama fairly well. I was initially bored by the Joseon scenes, but they eventually drew me in as it focussed less on politics and more on time travel. Most of the Joseon characters were not very memorable, including the Queen herself, but the talisman story had some excitement, and suspense to it. The modern day romance is what hooked me in, and kept me watching, yet the rest of the modern day plot was too silly for my taste. Any scene that was non related to the main couple was easily skip-able for me.
I wonder if I would have liked the Queen In Hyun's Man more, if I liked some of the supporting cast more.
If I could separate the rating for the main characters from the supporting cast, the acting for the supporting cast would have gotten a much lower score from me. I found Kim Jin-Woo & Ga Deuk-Hi's roles to be equally annoying as the ex-boyfriend costar & the bff manager. Ga Deuk-Hi had some cute banter with Ji Hyun-Woo, but her constant whining made her character hard for me to bare. I did not find Kim Jin-Woo charming enough to make being so childish entertaining. Jin Ye-Sol played the only supporting character that I had any real interest in, and I think I would have been more effected by her role if she had more screen time.
Now, as much as I can rave about Yoo In Na & Ji Hyun Woo's romantic chemistry, I still had a few problems with their performances. I loved how impulsive Choi Hee Jin was, and that she wasn't romantically passive like most rom-com female leads. I even found her sometimes ditzy behavior sweet, and her antics charming, but for some reason her tears had no effect on me. Sometimes it felt more like sulking than really emotional based tears, but even when she seemed to be crying her heart out I was dry eyed. Meanwhile, Ji Hyun Woo played Kim Boong Do completely deadpan. He has a sexy smirk, and I liked that he was self assured, but something felt like it was missing from his performance. I get that his character was an intellectual, and not necessarily emotional, but his reactions were just too casual in my opinion. In contrast, the rare moments when he did breakdown, should have had a strong emotional effect on me, but they didn't. The story has some seriously heartbreaking moments so It's amazing to me that I didn't cry once.
What the leads do extremely well is romance. There were so many hot, cute, flirty, and sweet scenes between them. Honestly, what got me into this drama, was wanting to watch them flirt. The plot became more and more intriguing as it went on, but I was always secretly waiting for the next flirty scene. The ending also avoided being too corny, and I was satisfied with it (improbable or not), but my favorite part of the end had very little dialogue. ; )
I have no problem with a voice of dissent when it comes to reviews. I know my opinion of Queen In Hyun's Man is not a popular one on MDL, and that is why I feel compelled to say it. Having super high expectations can sometimes ruin a drama for me. Overall I've seen much worse, and much better. I was never super excited to watch the next episode, but I wasn't disappointed by any episodes either. I've already rewatched some of the moments that I liked, but probably wouldn't rewatch the whole thing again. At the very least, this drama deserves praise for feeling a little different than your average kdrama romcom.
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Too fun to be this short : (
"A Business Proposal" is a classic addictive RomCom. Yes, It's filled with tropes galore, but it's also self-aware, which I loved, including a drama within a drama that reminds the viewer to not take the cheesy plot too seriously. Nothing in this drama is original. As the title suggests, It's the cliché Rich Boss Poor Employee cliché complete with a contractual relationship that starts getting real. What feels different about this drama is that it doesn't waste a lot of time on repetitive obstacles, and most of the time is spent instead on the amazing chemistry between the leads.It stars Kim Se Jeong as Shin Ha Ri. A quirky-klutzy but smart and hardworking employee who I loved! She's hilarious and ridiculous but still felt real and relatable and was thankfully not a passive doormat. This was my first time seeing her in a drama and I'm an instant fan. Seriously, she's so good that I will definitely watch whatever she is in next. I already started watching "The Uncanny Counter" to kill time waiting for the next episodes of this each week, and I love her in that too, but she's a perfect rom-com leading lady. She is matched with Ahn Hyo Seop as Kang Tae Moo, the typical cold and arrogant boss leading man. He plays that role really well and was a great straight man for Ha Ri's antics, but it was his vulnerability when he starts letting down his guard that really got me. I was immediately sucked into their rom-com banter. Even watching them just look at each other I could feel butterflies, and I am definitely adding them to my list of favorite Kdrama couples. Their story is everything I've already seen in a million KDramas before and I was still excited, that's how good they were together. I also liked how the love story escalated without wasting too much time (Tae Moo's favorite saying) but then again, I didn't realize there were only 12 episodes. I feel gypped. I wasn't ready to let this go!
Another great thing about this drama is that it almost felt like getting 2 romcoms for the price of one. Each lead had a BFF and they had their own cute love story with amazing chemistry. I also really loved the friendship between Young Seo and Ha Ri and between Sung Hoon and Ta Moo. Special shout out to Kim Min Gue's dimple who deserves its own credit for being a valuable part of the cast. There's a great underlying theme about the family you create beyond the one you're born into. I also liked that even the rich and privileged lead characters were given some depth and not just reduced to what you would normally expect from a typical sheltered heir/chaebol character.
The supporting cast was fun too. Some characters are extra over the top and borderline annoying (OMG Young Seo's cousin's voice was so excruciating), but the silliest moments still usually make me laugh. One of my favorite characters of all was Lee Deok Hwa as Ta Moo's drama-addicted matchmaking Grandpa. He looked like he was having fun too, playing a sillier spin on the kind of role he's played so many times before. The only characters who were a buzz kill were the Chef and his petty Girlfriend. They weren't bad, they were just... "meh". I'm glad their screen time was limited.
Would I watch this again? Definitely. I already rewatched many of the episodes while waiting for the next episode. There's something comforting about a lite drama like this that's so easy to binge and is still fun to watch even with such a basic plot. Next time I'm in the mood to watch attractive couples with great chemistry I'll queue this up! I will be tempted to fast forward to my favorite moments and skip the filler, but even the filler is pretty funny.
Overall, after being disappointed by so many recent dramas, and not being in the mood to watch something deep or gutwrenching, this drama exceeded all of my expectations. I watched knowing nothing about the webtoon, so I can't compare them. Is the plot logical? Absolutely not. Will that matter while watching? I doubt it. Sometimes it felt like I was watching "What's Wrong With Secretary Kim" Jr but take that as a compliment. There's a reason so many of these tropes are in so many dramas again and again, and "A Business Proposal" embraces that unapologetically, and with cute animation to help set that mood. I am genuinely going to miss this drama. I wasn't prepared for it to end but I'm so glad it ended with me still enjoying it and didn't drag on and become stale and disappointing. This drama stays consistently silly and sweet from beginning to end but also has heart and its own original flavor thanks to the cast. There's also mild food porn, so I wouldn't attempt to watch while hungry. I'm hoping to find another drama this cute, since real life has been too heavy lately to appreciate a heavy drama, and this was the perfect escapism.
This is 100% a guilty pleasure drama, but I feel no shame that I enjoyed every episode.
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The whole cast is great, but I adored the "Joseon Power Rangers", who I will just refer to as Yellow, Green, and (my favorite) Blue. Each had an endearing personality that made them real characters, and more than just comic relief in color coordinated outfits. They are definitely a huge highlight.
As far as evil characters go, Lee Tae Sung, and Jung Yoo Mi do their very best to make sure you absolutely HATE them. I immediately forgot any other drama that I liked Lee Tae Sung in, because my anger at Tae Mu took over completely. Jung Yoo Mi managed to anger me even more with her outstanding performance as evil Se Na. Together they made me yell obscenities at the screen, and I loved watching them top themselves with new reasons to make me hate them in every episode.
The two main leads were so good. Han Ji Min was great as perpetual victim Bak (or Park?) Ha/, and won my sympathy without coming across as a weak doormat. I absolutely fell in love with Micky Yoochun, and thought he was great balancing multiple parts, and making each distinct personality work. I loved them both in previous dramas, and I really loved them together. Their chemistry was impressive, even though their first kiss scene was not (although they do make up for it later). There are so many rewatchable cute moments, romantic/sweet moments, and tearjerking/heartbreaking moments between them. The plot involves mysteries of the past, and present, being revealed, but romance is what drives the story. There are a few repetitive moments, but overall their romance is done very well.
By the end, all the important questions do get answered, although I thought that the last episode felt a little rushed while doing so. Some people may find the ending confusing, but I think they are just over thinking it. I wasn't quite sure how it would all end until the very end, and I think that's a good thing. I was also satisfied with the end, though it definitely left me wanting more.
Now I can't finish this review without mentioning the music. I immediately had to have it on my iPod. I get amped by the cheesy "Happy Ending" song, my heart breaks when listening to Ali's "Hurt", and I even loved the instrumentals. The songs enhanced each scene, and were memorable without being distracting. The soundtrack is a sure 10.
Rooftop Prince has the charm of a beloved fairy tale. I am hesitant to give dramas a 10, even if I love them, so I'm giving this a 9. If you focus on plot holes, unrealistic scenarios, and what is or isn't probable, I'm sure you will find flaws, but I was too into the story to be bothered by any of that. I just finished watching it, and I miss it already. I am almost tempted to watch it all again right now!
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Since Nokdu is the title character it's important that he is at least likable but Jang Dong Yoon more than succeeds in playing a charming character that I loved rooting for. It's his quest to find out the truth about who he is that takes him on this epic journey where he ends up pretending he is a widow on the run "Lady Kim". Sure the idea that he is such a convincing woman is pretty ridiculous but he really makes it work without playing too much into feminine stereotypes. This is the first drama that I've seen Jang Dong Yoon in, and I was definitely impressed. He is perfectly matched with Kim So Hyun as Dong Joo, who may be much younger but being an experienced actress, she definitely holds her own. They have great chemistry from the moment they meet, going from sibling-like squabbling, then eventually growing closer. I also loved that Dong Joo had more of a fighter's spirit and had more traditionally male energy in some ways and Nokdu was the more sensitive and romantic one which added to how he could be easily seen as feminine. Sure they both have literal genderbending moments, but this drama doesn't play up that misunderstanding for too long, and crossdressing is eventually used more like a tool. Instead, we get to see all the things that bring them closer together and fuels their connection and eventually their trust and support for each other. That brings me to Kang Tae Oh who plays the quintessential handsome second lead role and gives a performance that is absolutely brilliant. As much as I loved Nokdu and Dong Joo, it is Yool Mu who is the true breakout star of this drama!
I don't want to go into much detail about each amazing cast member since I don't want to accidentally give away too much of the plot, but just know that the entire cast is great. Some characters are more for comic relief, while others are much more sinister, serious and complicated, but they made me care about what happened to each one of them (Shout out to Hwang In Yeob who may be a man of few words but his eyes and smirk said volumes). Some characters are more frustrating to watch, like the impetuously hot-tempered king and the annoyingly food-obsessed and unable to just shut up little girl, but that's because of the role they play in the story. The Island of exiles, The Widow Village, The Gisaeng House, The Palace... The world of Tale of Nokdu is filled with great and performances and a cast that knows how to go from comedy to action to drama without making it feel disjointed. Earlier scenes were a bit confusing to me, especially the politically based ones, but with every revelation, the full story becomes clearer and clearer. This is a drama that gets better and better with each episode, constantly building momentum. Even seemingly mundane moments have an importance that isn't realized at first. This is a drama that pays attention to details, without ever taking itself too seriously for too long. Every episode of this drama is meant to entertain and it does. I'm sure it's even better if you binge-watch it instead of having to wait. It also has a very satisfying ending in my opinion which gives the serious moments the attention they deserve while still leaving room for the playfulness that makes this drama so much fun.
That leads me to the question of whether or not I would rewatch this drama and my answer is definitely. It would be great to see this drama again now that I know what's really going on, and am able to catch all the things I missed the first time. I'm sure it will be just as entertaining, even if the suspense is gone. The performances, storytelling, and cinematography are compelling enough to keep me entertained, and I can already think of a few scenes that I would love to see again.
I also liked the OST. I won't say that any of the songs are favorites of mine but they fit the different moods of the drama well.
Overall this is definitely a drama I would recommend and already have. It's one of my new favorite sageuks, and although this didn't make me as emotional as my favorite historical dramas usually do I really felt connected to characters in a way that I never would have expected when I started. I also loved seeing a romance that isn't just about chemistry, flirting, or fate but is about choosing to be each other's support and "home". I even empathized with many of the villainous characters. And I especially loved the theme of the value of trust and the importance of having support from people who care vs a lonely existence where you may have wealth and power but can trust no one. The sillier moments may be too over the top for some viewers but I thought they were really cute, especially the earlier bonding episodes between Nokdu and Dong Joo. The heavier moments also aren't too heavy for long, so while I wouldn't call this drama lighthearted it is a feel-good drama in many ways in spite of some very dark turns in the plot. I also loved the theme of so many strong and self-sufficient women in a traditionally male-dominated Joseon Dynasty Era. If you give this drama a chance I think you will be pleasantly surprised like I was. I can't compare it to the webtoon since I never even heard of it, and I suspect there are zero historical accuracies beyond a few names, so my review's only based on this drama's own merit. Like Nokdu disguised, this drama is clever and endearing, and one that I couldn't help but grow to love.
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In the beginning, I thought I was lost because the story was so complicated, but I was actually lost because the story was so random. It revolves around the adopted daughter of a wealthy yet dysfunctional family. I won't get too into the actual storyline but considering the genre anyone watching should be prepared for a story that's way over the top. Plot points include a kidnapping, child abuse, suicide, adultery, corruption, superstition, and family secrets, and themes like classism, abandonment, jealousy, greed, and of course revenge. I don't mind an unrealistic story, but this drama was nonsensical, and not in a fun enough way for me to at least laugh and enjoy it. I spent most of my time watching being frustrated with every single character, and it's hard to enjoy a show when you hate everyone in it. That may sound harsh, but aside from maybe 2 characters, I thought the entire cast was awful.
I'll start my critiques with leading lady Lee Yoo Ri who plays Chae Rin. I think I was supposed to sympathize with her character, which I never did. She basically has two modes in this drama, Bad@ss businesswoman, and extremely needy. I have not seen this actress as a lead in a drama before, and after this, I won't look forward to seeing her again. She just wasn't likable to me, at all. I don't mind the main character being imperfect or even a bit of a villain, but more than anything else she just bored me. She is matched with Song Chang Eui as Eun Hyuk, who unfortunately had only one mode, 'bodyguard gone rogue'. His character barely had any facial expressions. His character was written with a lot of conflicting emotions, but he barely showed any at all. Together they had zero chemistry, so not only did their relationship feel forced, but I also couldn't get past their questionable start. I felt totally unsympathetic towards their relationship, and I wasn't buying either of their crocodile tears. So needless to say, the romance aspect of the show was a huge disappointment.
The other characters are over the top to the point that they are unintentionally comical. Initially, I thought Uhm Hyun Kyung was the lead since she was the most sympathetic character (yeah, I know she's not in the picture of the show, but still... lol), but eventually, the writers turned her character into someone so ridiculous that I became annoyed whenever she was on the screen. Kim Young Min as Moon Jae Sang was another ridiculously written character. His one-note obsession halfway through the show made absolutely no sense, so he also became a nuisance on screen.
The rest of the cast were either super cliché or forgettable, with 2 exceptions. Lee Won Jong as Pil Doo amused me because he always plays that kind of character so well. At least his character made sense for the entire show, although like most of the characters his actions were pretty repetitive. Then there was
Yoon Da Kyung as Manager Kim, who was possibly the only character I cared about at all. I admit that sometimes I laughed at her over the top moments, but at least she was always very entertaining in her role... Something I can't say about any other character in this whole drama.
Since I disliked most of the characters it's probably safe to guess that I also hated the story. Another safe guess would be that I will never watch this drama again unless someone kidnaps me and forces me to sit through it. I think the story was meant to be shocking, and full of random plot twists, but it's mostly pretty predictable, or just super haphazard... like 'random white truck of doom coming out of nowhere' haphazard. By the end they do their best to resolve the story for all of the characters, keeping things melodramatic till the very last moments, but honestly, the only satisfying ending for me would have been if an explosion took out every single character in the whole show. Ok, maybe that's too harsh? Fine, then I'd only let the Dad and Miss Kim survive.
Overall, I hope I never forget how much I didn't like this drama so I don't accidentally watch it again. If this was enough to stop you from watching all 48 episodes of this hot mess of a show, you're welcome. Even with the short episode format, some of the episodes still seemed too long. For those of you who are diehard Makjang fans, maybe you'll have a much higher tolerance for this drama than I could muster up. At first, I was amused by the ridiculous acting and craziness in this drama, but 48 episodes is a long time to laugh inappropriately at people living their worst lives. If you get halfway through this drama and you think it's the best thing ever, then keep watching because it's only going to get crazier. My guess is that a lot of people dropped this drama as I should have. Let this review be a cautionary tale for anyone who's on the fence about dropping this drama. Just read the spoilers and trust that you should be seeking something else to watch.
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RomCom turned Melodrama bait and switch.
I started this drama hoping for a quick but cute romcom but it quickly turned into mediocre historical melodrama. I wouldn't even mind if the melodramatic plot was over the top and fun but instead, it took itself too seriously and dragged on, and by the last episode I was super bored. I think "The Forbidden Marriage" is a trope fest that doesn't always work. Sometimes it was funny and cute and sometimes it was cringy and forced. It wasn't silly enough to keep me entertained like "Rooftop Prince", and the lead couple wasn't compelling enough for me to root for like "The Red Sleeve". It seems like they borrowed things that worked in other dramas that just didn't work for me here, and just added the occasional immature sexual innuendo for giggles. I would have preferred if they chose to stick with comedy but instead, it's a weird messy melodramatic love triangle mystery.This drama depends a lot on Kim Young Dae's charm to make this love story work but bad writing and stale chemistry made me disappointed with the main couple. Park Ju Hyun was initially funny, and I liked her mischievous spunk, but I just didn't love her as a romantic lead. I can't even totally blame the writing, because there are lots of dramas where the stubborn tyrannical male lead has his heart changed by the unconventional female lead, which I love. In this case, besides the initial teasing that was fun to watch, I felt no spark between the leads. Instead, it was the promise of a love triangle that kept me watching, and Kim Woo Seok as Lee Shin Won is the only character whose feelings felt genuine. I can't even quite call it 2nd lead syndrome because I liked him more than both leads. The lovelorn hero storyline was what kept me watching when the show started to drag and if they got rid of his character I would have dropped this drama for sure. I won't spoil things too much, but things get so predictable after a while it's hard to spoil.
The supporting cast is a mixed bag. Some characters didn't get enough screen time, like the flamboyant psychic played by Choi Deok Moon, and the erotic/romantic writer (which was a cute plot of its own), while the villainous characters got too much screen time, especially in the final episodes. It would be different if they truly took time to establish backstories like So Rang's family dynamic or Lee Heon's first marriage if they were going to go on such a detailed thriller detour. They also did a poor job of establishing the love between the two leads in my opinion. I knew in detail why Shin Won was in love with the female lead but why did So Rang love the king? Just attraction? He was an irrational jerk most of the time. Why did the king really fall for So Rang? Because she catered to him? Because she was "different"? And why did his relationship with the first queen seem so one-sided and even creepy? I can even believe that going through trials is what ultimately brought them together but their confessions and love declarations just felt so cringy. You would think with all the flirtation and sexual references that there would be more chemistry but I could not take them seriously enough to feel anything but awkwardness.
Would I watch this again? No. I was on the fence about dropping it but kept hoping that some of the comedic sparks from the beginning of the drama would come back. Once the drama deviated to melodrama it never quite found consistent humor again. I don't regret watching it, but I wouldn't ask this drama out on a second date.
Overall, I cannot really recommend this drama unless you love anything and everything Kim Young Dae does. If his cuteness is your reason, you will have plenty of it to tide you over. I'll also add a trigger warning for haters of love triangles and unrequited love. If you are hoping for a funny romcom about repressed people starving for love during a 7-year ban on marriage, like I was, be warned that melodrama is on the horizon and it will soon take over completely and turn into a cliché battle over who should be the next Queen. The 12th episode is the most dragged out of all. Instead of closure, it felt like they just kept adding things to fill up the time. Yes, every character gets some kind of closure or a hint at closure, and some of the final moments are cute, but it was too late for me to care. "The Forbidden Marriage" seems like a drama that wasn't a strong enough silly comedy so they kept throwing in sageuk tropes which backfired. Maybe I had too many expectations, wasn't in the right mood, or was too team Shin Won to enjoy this drama as much as others. Consider this a friendly reminder that not every highly-rated drama is for everyone.
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The supporting cast was pretty good, but their stories were disappointing. Sung Joon was my favorite supporting character in the beginning, but after a while it was clear that his story wouldn't develop, and his acting started to feel forced. Hong Soo Hyun was fun as the annoying rival/friend, and I loved to hate her. Jo Yoon Hee didn't have a strong enough presence as the ex fiance, and I grew tired of her really quickly
What kept me watching this drama until the end was the chemistry between Yoon Eun Hye and Kang Ji Hwan. The story starts to get really cheesy in the last episodes, but I still loved seeing them together. The ending tries too hard to be meaningful, but it was way too corny for my taste. I can't see myself rewatching this drama from the beginning, but I admit to revisiting a few of my favorite scenes. I loved the "cola" scene, and the karaoke scene made sure that "Ice cream" song was stuck in my head for weeks!
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