1
manicmuse
NYC!
What I think saves this drama is the cast, particularly Joo Sang Wook and Han Ye Seul's chemistry. Han Ye Seul plays Sara, the beauty in the title, who has undergone a complete transformation due to a tragic past. Joo Sang Wook plays Han Tae Hee, who has a mysterious past of his own, and who helps Sara adjust to her new life. They are very cute together, which will probably get romance fans hooked early on, but it doesn't take long before the melodrama takes over, and by the halfway mark romcom fans may be ready to abandon this drama completely.
Eventually cute banter between the two of them (I loved that he calls her Ahjumma) turns into frustrating obstacles filled with clichés. There's also a cast of villains that are really good at being horrible, that inspire an elaborate revenge plot, and the quintessential kdrama battle over the family business. Now I love a good melodrama, but like I said, I think the plot made very little sense, and was full of holes. This is why I had to give the cast a 9. They really are what kept this drama watchable. Sure, some characters were definitely more one dimensional than others, but in such an overdramatic drama, they did managed to keep the story somehow believable enough for me to want to see how it all would all end.
Another issue I had with this drama is that 21 episodes felt way too long. They do manage to pack in lots of extreme plot points, but I think they mostly backfired and made the story start to drag and feel boring. I was tired of getting mad at characters for making dumb choices, watching repetitive scenes between characters, and seeing too many flashbacks. I could not see myself ever watching this drama again, which may seem harsh, but the good parts just weren't good enough for me to want to sit through all of these episodes again.
This drama does attempt to reiterate the idea that what makes a woman beautiful is more than how she looks on the outside, but the problem is that it still makes Ha Jae Sook's looks the punchline of every joke possible. In my opinion she's the real MVP of this drama, and her scenes were the only ones that made me feel even slightly emotional, but I hated the fact that she was basically branded as practically hideous. I can't imagine looking like her and feeling good while watching this, no matter how much this drama tried to make the plot about self acceptance, and inner strength, the damage was already done. Some parts literally felt like a commercial for diet pills.
Overall, I thought this drama was a cute romcom about an unlikely couple overcoming obstacles together, that got hijacked by a bad revenge melodrama. I say this as a person who is normally a fan of epic revenge stories, but this story just made too little sense. By the end, I wasn't disappointed that I completed it, but most of the interest I had in the beginning was long gone. I can't recommend watching this knowing that there are so many other dramas that tell a similar story much better... there are even some dramas that I thought were mediocre but I would recommend them before this one. Still, I didn't hate it, so if you're a fan of anyone in the cast, that might be an incentive to watch this one just to say you did.
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Maybe it was a little more innovative at the time, but the story is super basic by today's standards. Super cute curly-haired Dalja is anxious about getting older, when she ends up getting involved in a pretend relationship with a much younger and carefree Tae Bong. Their story involves everything you expect, including a classic relationship contract, but that still didn't stop me from loving watching their story unfold. Dalja's constant complaints about being old were annoying, and some of her fantasies are super cheesy, but she is an extremely likable character. Chae Rim did a good job of making her naive without being extremely annoying. She matched perfectly with Lee Min Ki's much edgier portrayal of Kang Tae Bong. Tae Bong has a mischievous charm that makes him very crush worthy. His eyes were very red, as if he was always high, or had bad allergies, but the looks he would give Dalja made it impossible for her (and I) not to fall for him. Their kissing moments left a lot to be desired, but I expect that from a drama this old. Their chemistry alone makes the show good enough to watch, but there is also an amazing supporting cast.
What I love most about the supporting cast is that I had no idea how significant, and interesting they would become. On the surface they are stereotypical... the playboy, the cool egotistical host, the perfect on paper second lead, the scary boss (with the awesome glasses)... but each of these characters end up being way more complicated, and significant. I adored Lee Hye Young as Seon Joo, who I expected to hate, but won me over. Gong Hyung Jin was great too, even if his hair was distractingly stupid. I even loved some of the more minor characters, like Jang Young Nam as Ki Joong's psycho wife. The minor storylines were also entertaining, so they never felt like filler, and they helped to make the 22 episodes not drag for me.
Even though I really liked the writing, if there was a kdrama trope checklist, this drama would almost check every box. The drama is however clever enough to make fun of that fact several times during some of the show's "if this were a drama" moments. It also plays off of some of Dalja's romanticized ideas about romance. Still, it's super predictable at every turn, but the cast is so good that knowing what will happen didn't stop me from wanting to see it happen. My only real complaint is that, although I liked the endings for the supporting characters, I didn't love the ending for the main couple. I rolled my eyes several times during the last 2 episodes, but It did however leave me wanting more, which I guess is a good thing.
The OST for this show is also a good one, and matches the mood of the show well. The main song definitely got stuck in my head! But it's the illustrations that really steal the show! I looooooved the artwork, which was a really nice touch, and captured the characters and stories well.
Overall this is a drama cute enough to stand the test of time. I could see myself watching this again just because the characters are so fun. I really liked the theme of true love vs expectations of love as well. I highly recommend Dal Ja's Spring to anyone who avoids retro dramas... I think you may also be pleasantly surprised.
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This review may contain spoilers
This drama really exceeded my expectations! This is a completely re-imagined version of historical events. Like Shakespeare's historical plays, It's less about being historically accurate, and more about exploring themes ... specifically love & fate. I didn't really know about the true history until after I finished the drama, which I am thankful for. Not really knowing anything kept me on the edge of my seat until the end. I was afraid that a sageuk with a very political plot would get boring, and confusing, but that was not the case. The politics in the story is just there to set the stage for this tragic but beautiful romance. If you already know Jang Ok Jung's story, I suggest pretending that you don't. Kim Tae Hee's version is not an evil villain, greedily ambitious, nor is she a passive victim. The Jang Ok Jung of this drama is inspiring, but flawed. I liked her, even when she did things that frustrated me, which I think made her more human, and relatable. (Something told me she was a scorpio, and I was right. lol.)
Yoo Ah In & Kim Tae Hee's amazing chemistry are the driving force behind this drama, and both do an excellent job in their roles. I loved how King Sookjong would go from an arrogant smirk, to moments of complete sensitivity. Like Jang Ok Jung, he is also flawed, which made me love his character more.
The majority of the cast was excellent. I hated the villains I was supposed to hate, but they also had moments where they completely won my sympathy. There were too many great performances to point them all out, but I think Hong Soo Hyun, as Queen Inhyun, was the most complicated of the supporting cast, and my favorite.
The two cast members I was least impressed with were Han Seung Yeon as Sookbin Choi & Jae Hee as Hyun Chi Soo. Sookbin Choi seemed to be the only one dimensional character, with one arrogant "stank" face throughout. This was probably done in order to justify Jang Ok Jung's actions, which worked, but I wish she had as much depth as the other characters. And Jae Hee was just... well... boring. Maybe it's because I still can't forgive him for "Color of Woman", but I thought he was the worst of the cast, and subtracted a full point for his performance alone.
Overall, even if you're not a sageuk fan, I would make this one an exception. I'd suggest avoiding spoiler happy "Dong Yi" fans, or Korean History buffs, to have the best experience. Romance fans, keep in mind that this is a romantic tragedy, filled with many more depressing scenes than cute ones, so just keep your tissues handy, especially in the later episodes. Kudos to the makers of this drama for making 24 episodes without any unnecessary "filler". I laughed, cried, cheered, and got pissed off, but was never really bored. I could see myself watching them all again, it was that good.
This story may not be heavy on truth, but it did succeed in making me not only interested in her life, but other dramas that tell the story of the women of King Sukjong of Joseon's royal court. I guess I'm now officially coming out as a sageuk fan!
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Ha Suk Jin and Jeon So Min are a great match. They not only play their roles well, but they have very realistic chemistry with each other. Watching them felt like eavesdropping on an actual couple, even with all the tropes. I especially loved the way he looked at her, and it's worth noting that their kissing moments are much hotter and realer than the kdrama norm. I've never seen either before, but they nailed it.
The only reason for lowering my cast score was that although I loved the leads, the best friend, and Jae In's lawyer, many of the supporting cast members seemed pretty useless. A lot of them didn't have enough screen time to make me care about them, or just had a ridiculous role like Seo Eun Chae as Han Joo Hee. I'm not sure if she or the role were the problem, maybe both, but although I can see how she added to their story, she was my least favorite part.
I also gave the story a lower score, because of the lack of originality, poorly fleshed out backstories, and a few "dramatic" moments that made no sense to me, but what they did well was trim a lot of fat from the episodes. I confess that I actually binge watched this whole drama while sick, and I was able to finish it in a day and a half! I was on episode 4 before I realized that the episodes were shorter than usual, and that's also when I finally gave up on waiting for a big dramatic story to happen. The episodes seemed to fly by as I watched Jae In and Dada become closer, and that was all the entertainment I needed.
Would I watch this again? Maybe. I liked the main characters enough for a possible rewatch, but I can't say the same about the rest of the plot.
Oh, and the OST. It's a great match for this drama, including a cute spinoff of the jackson 5's "I want you back", but I was pretty indifferent to Ji Soo's songs, and his storyline.
Overall, this is a good romcom, and definitely worth watching for fans of the genre. I think my score is lower than most because I tend to like more intriguing plots, but this simple story has a lot of charm. I also think making it shorter was very smart (I can't believe the original was so long), so there was no time to get bored with the story, and it took no time to get hooked. It's the perfect drama for weekend binge watching, while still leaving you with some time left for real life (If you're not sick like I was)! I'm glad I took a chance on this one.
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The plot involves seeing the future in your dreams, which is not a new kdrama concept, but I liked the way it was executed here. The supernatural thriller aspect of this show was what kept me most interested. I was excited each week to see if the characters would be able to change their fate. There's also a lot of the plot that involves the characters' backstories, which I also very found interesting. It's not the most exciting or original thriller, but I was entertained. The writer, Park Hye-Ryun, wrote two dramas that I enjoyed with similar styles, "I Hear Your Voice" (one of my favorite villains) and "Pinocchio" (one of my favorite dramas). I think this one doesn't quite measure up in comparison, but in some ways it's kind of a hybrid of the two. "While You Were Sleeping" combines the law and reporting, asks similar questions about morality, and of course adds a supernatural twist in a way that is meant to seem totally plausible and realistic. The most obvious similarity, of course, is that it stars Lee Jong Suk. Maybe they were banking on recapturing past magic with all of these elements, but it still falls a little short.
Lee Jong Suk is fairly consistent. He's got this cool confident swag thing going on, without being too arrogant, and while being vulnerable enough to maintain his charm. In this role, however, he is supposed to come off as a little less cool, and it honestly didn't work. He still maintains his charm, but the lighthearted character he was going for still seemed too much like the character he usually plays, just in forced silly situations. I don't think fans of his will be disappointed, or that he does a bad job, it's just that something feels off with this character pretty early on. He of course is matched with Suzy, who I have been neutral about for a long time. She plays eccentric Hong Ju, the real center of this whole drama, but she went from being interesting to too predictable for me in this role. For a character who is supposed to be so headstrong and determined, she was still easily overshadowed by the guys. I honestly don't think she had a strong enough presence for this role. It also doesn't help that her chemistry with Jong Suk didn't quite work either. At first they were cute, really cute, but then they were pretty boring and forgettable. Both of their emotional scenes also felt really forced. She seems like an actress that relies on her costar's charm to make the chemistry really work, and since Jong Suk wasn't at his A game, that made her extra mediocre. So fans looking for a good rom com storyline will be pretty underwhelmed.
The rest of the cast is mostly great, especially Jung Hae In and Kim Won Hae. Hae In is a formidable second lead, if the romance portion wasn't so lacking, and really charming. I also love Won Hae's versatility, even though this role is more low key and emotional than I've seen him before, he is clearly a talented actor. Then there's the rest of the ensemble, especially the prosecutors and staff, who were all extremely entertaining, and added a lot to the story to hold my interest. Still, I have to say that I was disappointed by Lee Sang Yeob. He was good at playing arrogant, I will definitely give him that, but as a villain he was pretty boring. On paper his character is duplicitous, charming, and manipulative, but I felt like he was pretty one note in his portrayal. I'm a sucker for a good villain, so maybe I'm being extra hard on him, but I just wasn't impressed.
My rewatch value is obviously pretty low because my desire to even finish was pretty low. The plot is good enough, I think, to warrant a second viewing to see how the pieces fit. It may even be better to just binge watch so you don't have enough time in between to lose interest. I will also add the disclaimer that I was simultaneously watching other on air suspense/thriller dramas at the same time, and this started to pale in comparison, which didn't help.
The OST was pretty "meh" worthy for me. It fit the vibe of the story well, but I have no desire to hear any of these songs again. If I connected to this drama more I would probably like the OST more, but there are plenty of bad shows with soundtracks I love, so maybe not.
Overall, I'd say I'm disappointed based on the strong start, but not mad that I completed it. I would recommend too many other dramas before this one, especially since suspense is a common theme this season, but this isn't terrible, just not great. I wish more questions were answered at the end, instead of going for the standard ending, but I don't have any real major complaints. I would easily recommend this to fans of "I Hear your Voice" and "Pinocchio", with the disclaimer to lower your expectations, and expect some major deja vu.
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The plot makes no sense. A rich guy finds his 3 dead son's sons and forces them to live in a fancy home together, even though they don't get along. His solution is to hire a weird poor girl to move in and trick them into getting along, just as long as she doesn't date them? What???!!! Obviously the premise is just a set up to put her in close proximity with 3 cute guys (4 if you count the hot secretary), and honestly I was willing to forgive the implausibility of it all just to watch that often repeated k-drama dynamic of "which cute guy do I choose?"- but unfortunately the show dared to introduce another female lead which literally killed any joy I found watching the show. Once they tried to force feed that story into the plot, the show lost it's charm, and that brought my attention to how dumb the rest of the plot really was. Oh, and the flashbacks... waaaaaaay too many flashbacks filling up the time. Each flashback seemed to say "remember that part that you liked" as a way to distract from how bad the current story was.
As for the cast, it took me a while to warm up to Park So Dam as Ha Won. She bored me at first, the same way she initially bored me in Beautiful Mind, but eventually I started to root for her. She's quirky, and kinda naive, yet outspoken, and honest. She was definitely giving me Jan Di from BoF flashbacks. She is matched with the 3 leads, and had cute chemistry with each of them. Playboy Hyun Min had great second lead potential in the beginning. I liked many of their early scenes together. Seo Woo is super sweet, and a cute match to watch throughout the show, although they spend less time together as the show progresses. Then of course there's Jung Il Woo as Ji Woon... the reason I kept watching. He has great charisma, and his smirk won me over early on. There were moments where he and Park So Dam looked like they really could be dating, that's how cute they were together. That's also what tricked me into sticking with this show... every time I was about to quit watching they would have a moment that sucked me back in. I should also mention the cute secretary (I guess he's prince #4) who's character, and storyline, seemed like an afterthought, but I really liked him a lot (I personally would have chosen him).
So if most of the main cast was pretty good, why such a low score? The answer is Son Na Eun as Hye Ji. She is not just bad, she is a ruiner of scenes. Not only is her character terribly written... they try to make you empathize with a crazy ex who can't let go, and it did not work for me... She is also just not a great actress at all. Her expressions were bland, her emotions felt fake (tears of the crocodile variety), and I'm not an A Pink fangirl so I don't get her appeal. I felt like groaning every time she was on screen, which was more and more as the show progressed. She ruined any love I had for the show, and by the end her scenes became moments to take bathroom breaks, or check messages or my email... I wish the show was half as long and omitted her entire storyline (which also made no sense, but I won't spoil it). A good rival should add to the plot, not make you want to never watch again. Grandpa CEO was also a terrible character, and frustrating to watch, but his acting wasn't terrible so it worked. Other parents were equally annoying, but still not as bad as Na Eun (and had much less screen time). The only character who annoyed me as much is Ja Yeong, the BFF of Ha Won. I guess I was supposed to find her creepy fangirl personality cute, but she annoyed me. The forced romance implications were also not working for me. Ahh, forced romance... that brings me to the end... ugh!
I honestly wanted to see how it would all be resolved, but the ending felt so forced, and overly romantic, that I would have rather had a tragic sappy ending where everyone died. The ending scene was so incredibly cheesy that I couldn't take it. The only thing I liked was the surprise (totally predictable) backstory between Ji Woon and Ha Won, that I wish was the main focus of the show in the first place. Of course they add unnecessary drama to the final moments too, but there are no surprises, so I don't recommend forcing yourself to stick it out to the end.
The soundtrack is not my favorite, but it's the best part of the show after the main kissing scenes.
Would I watch this again? Never. I'm still wondering why I didn't stop watching weeks ago!
Overall this show is bad... really bad, in spite the cute moments that I wish could be pieced together to form it's own mini show. If you start it, you will probably be tempted to keep watching, but let me assure you that once it starts going down hill it will only get worse. Just watch youtube clips of the best scenes from the show, and don't bother trying to make sense of the messy storyline, or care who the characters are... clearly the writer didn't care either. I can't believe this is based on a book, and I wonder how much this show misses the mark.
I wish I could go back in time and drop this drama. If you're wondering if it's better to watch and drop, or to never watch at all, I would say both choices are better than forcing yourself to watch the whole thing. I give the show a 4 - one point for each of the 4 prince cuties interactioning with the lead. That's basically all the show has to offer, and that's not enough to fill 16 episodes. With soooo many cinderella themed k-dramas out there, this literal one is the one you should miss.
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The cast was pretty good, but I felt like a lot of talent was wasted. Nam Sang Mi and Kim Jae Won had decent chemistry, but the romance story became subdued and even dull once the story focused more on the melodrama. Jae Won played up the smiley nice guy role so much that his portrayal of Dr. Han Gang Woo seemed very one-note and even at times uninteresting to me. However, it's the character of Ji Eun Han that'supposed to drive this story, and Nam Sang Mi's performance wasn't strong enough for me to do that. Lee Shi Ah's performance felt much more exciting so the shift to a more subdued Nam Sang Mi was a dramatic change. It was almost as if Sang Mi was just too chill to play such an emotionally complicated role. Especially a role where the character has and makes such drastic and contradictory reactions and choices. Also, despite them trying to imply that they were similar, these two actresses were just too drastically different to be considered the same person at all. No plastic surgery in the world is that magical.
One talent in particular that felt wasted was Lee Mi Sook, who knows how to make the most out of a melodramatic character, especially this kind of mother role, but her performance felt more interesting than her character was written to be. Detective Kim was similarly underutilized, and the story was less interesting when he was less involved. Jo Hyun Jae was good as well, even when his actions were written in a way that made him more laughable than emotional. Also, Han Eun Jung did her best to play up the drama of her character, as written, but that made her character seem laughingly ridiculous by the end, and hard to take seriously. I also think the cute banter between Jung Jin Woon and Lee Ho Jung is worth mentioning as cute but wasted filler. Many of the minor characters, including the kids, were good even if their character wasn't written well.
That takes me to my main issue with this drama, which is the writing. It's not that the story doesn't make sense, but it's sensationalizes everything so much that I couldn't take anything too seriously, or emotionally connect at all. The drama surrounding a cell phone and a song lasted for so many episodes, which made the story drag. The music was often sinister giving even mundane conversations an extra dramatic feel. It made it seem like they were trying to force a suspenseful feeling at all times, which backfired on me. I did think the "Save Me" song was pretty, and although it also felt extra dramatic during certain scenes, was fitting.
I'm doubtful I would watch this again, but maybe I would be more forgiving with a second viewing since I now know what the story is really about. My high expectations at the beginning made me more disappointed at what it turned out to be. Lower expectations during a second viewing may make me see this drama differently, and see earlier scenes differently. Maybe it would be less likely to bore me if I binge watched instead of waiting each week for new episodes, which I lost interest in keeping up with.
Overall, if you are interested in this drama based on the romantic mystery sounding synopsis, know that this is actually a wealthy family secrets centered melodrama that takes on a serious theme in a very senationalized way. Romance may drive the story, but it isn't the focus, so don't expect that part of the story to be very exciting, especially with two calm and repressed characters. The action feel during the early episodes doesn't last either, and that slowed down the pace for me too. Every question that arises in the story is eventually answered, and there's is a satisfying ending, but I still had a hard time with the pace of the drama, and with the story continuously holding my interest. Don't expect clever twists, even though many parts of the story aren't what they seem to be initially. If you have patience with the story everything pays off, but I'm just not certain that it was worth the price of watching. For a drama about amnesia, it is pretty forgettable.
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So how was the rest of the cast? They were good, but it was hard to separate characters who were badly written from the actor. Kim Ji Won is a perfect example. There was nothing wrong with her performance but her character irritated me for the majority of the drama. She had pretty good chemistry with Chang Wook, but I honestly didn't understand what made him so obsessed with her. The chemistry wasn't enough to carry the weak storyline.
The other main characters did a good enough job of being distinctive but bad writing made their stories pretty dull. I won't spoil how the stories connect but I guess the point was to explore different kinds of relationships (the good and bad) between men and women... friendships, crushes, long-time commitments, encounters with exes, casual relationships, and summer flings are represented. For the entire drama the only character who didn't annoy me at all was Kang Gun, but I was honestly bored by all the other interactions. The women characters is particular are often irrational and make frustrating decisions. I think I was waiting to relate to the characters as I got to know them but that never happened. I was just constantly waiting for the "story" to start. Sadly once it started it turned into one repetitive episode after another.
If I could describe the plot in one word I'd say it felt pointless. If you like the idea of non-sequitur relationship snippets then maybe you will like this more than I did. To me, it felt like filler interrupting the main plot which didn't have enough substance to fill all 16+ episodes. Then there's a weird resolution at the end that feels thrown together, that's interrupted by another random story with random minor characters. I think I would have liked it better, maybe, if there was a different story each week because this just felt like I was watching an unscripted mess. That didn't make it feel more authentic to me either, in fact, it felt more fake, especially with the awkward product placement moments.
Would I watch this again? Hard Pass! Not even for Ji Chang Wook's smile.
Also, the random old school rock "theme" song with the unnecessary music video was equally irritating.
Overall, this drama felt like a concept without a plan. I guess I can piece together moments that I liked enough that it kept me watching, but there were far more frustrating moments that made me wonder why I didn't drop it after every single episode. More than anything I didn't care at all about who stayed together and who didn't, which is bad for a romance-themed drama. There are intimate confessions that seem out of place, especially since the characters seem to have no idea who is listening and responding. Do you enjoy watching people act irrationally in relationships, and drag out misunderstandings, or drive people they care about crazy with their unresolved issues... then enjoy. I can't imagine sitting through this for another season myself, although I can see there being a possible setup for one. Since there were many times I was literally rooting for the main couple to never deal with each other again, I can't recommend this drama. Yes, eventually there are reasons and amends but the frustration to get there made it very anticlimactic. I definitely wasn't lovestruck with this drama. It almost makes "forever alone" seem like the better option.
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The story centers around 2 ill-fated loves. I thought both stories weaved together well, without feeling too cheesy, or forced. Gu Wol Ryung & Yoon Seo Hwa's tragic romance had me hooked from the very beginning. Choi Kang Chi & Dam Yeo-Wool's chemistry kept me excited about what would happen next. I'll admit that the story was a bit predictable at times, and there were a few frustrating questions left unanswered (specifically about the Gu Family Book), but the amazing cast made every episode enjoyable. At no point was I ever really bored.
Lee Seung Gi is one of my favorites. I've loved him in every drama I've seen him in, so it was great seeing him in a role where he gets to evolve into a true hero. He was perfectly complimented by Suzy, who plays a strong heroine, not just the pretty damsel in distress. They worked well with each other, and even made some of the cheesier love moments work.
I think the entire cast did a great job, so it's hard to single any actors out, even though I did have a few favorite characters. I hated who I was supposed to hate (Lee Sung-jae is such a good villain), and empathized with the entire colorful cast of characters. I also loved that many of the characters, weren't completely good or bad, which gave them more depth (Choi Jin Hyuk looked so good being bad, and Jo Jae Yun was hilarious). Though they played 'over the top' at times, I had to give the cast a 10.
The script I think was a bit too ambitious, which Is why I gave the story an 8. I don't think there were many plot holes, and I can forgive predictable stories if they are entertaining, which this was. There were actually a few moments that caught me completely off guard, and that kept the feeling of suspense going. I do think that some of the explanations were a little too far fetched, which made it hard for me to connect emotionally. I did not cry during the "sad" parts, because they were so melodramatic. Still, I was completely invested in the characters, which I think is a testament to the outstanding cast.
I did not love the music as much as others did, but it did compliment the mood well. I could see myself rewatching this, and still being entertained, but I wouldn't call this drama one of my favorites.
The ending does leave the door open for the possibility of a sequel, which is an exciting thought.
Overall, I would say this is worthy of any Sageuk to watch list. It was not perfect, but it was exciting, and enjoyable enough to get a "great" score from me. If you are willing to suspend your belief, I think you'll enjoy it too.
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An unexpected take on a hauntingly beautiful historical romance
Although there are many tragic Sageuks that I have loved watching over the years, "The Red Sleeve" stands out for so many reasons. The chemistry between the leads, the fact that it's a non-idealistic look at love, and a female lead who does not fit into the expected tropes. I think this drama is extremely addictive initially as we watch the two leads fall in love, but we soon see a tragic clash of two world perspectives that is both intriguing and frustrating to watch. As frustrated as I was during a lot of this drama what I appreciated was seeing the reality that love isn't always enough. I know this was based on true events, but I had no clue before watching where the story would go since I don't really know much about Korean history. I did know enough to not expect a "cheerful" ending. I admit that the beginning of this drama was much more appealing and addictive than the later episodes, especially watching the banter betweenLee Jun Ho and Lee Se Young, but it's the overall story arc that makes the lasting power of this drama so strong.
Lee Jun Ho is amazing as Yi San. I loved feeling like I could see his evolution to becoming a great king. He also pulled off a longing and obsession for Sung Deok Im that could have easily come across as majorly creepy in a #metoo way and not romantic at all if played wrong. Yi San was strong yet vulnerable and inspired laughter, tears, or butterflies with a single look. I think this really is a breakthrough performance for him. I've seen him be great before in "Just Between Lovers" and even "Wok of Love", but this role required so much range and he knocked it out of the park. He is matched with Lee Se Young Court Lady Deok Im and as much as there were times when I couldn't stand her character I loved her performance. Some may feel like she didn't show enough emotion but what impressed me was Deok Im's commitment to wearing a poker face and having the upper hand. Usually, arrogant male characters are accepted and condoned but here we have a truly unapologetically headstrong and arrogant female lead. She's clever and stubborn. She doesn't do what viewers may want her to do. Sometimes I cheered her on and sometimes I cursed at her through the screen but it was nice to see a female character in a historical drama with this kind of nerve. I won't give all the credit to the adult actors. There are some pretty brilliant child actors that help tell this story well too but the best parts of this drama are definitely when the main leads are together. I didn't expect to get so addicted to their banter but I quickly did.
There are a lot of Allstars in this cast that makes the typical corrupt Joseon court storyline feel not so cliché. Jang Hye Jin as Court Lady Seo and Oh Dae Hwan as the bodyguard are the real MVPs of this drama, and I also really liked the bond between the Court Lady Bffs. I did eventually grow tired of one storyline in particular with Park Ji Young as Head Court Lady Jo. I felt it didn't go far enough so it just seem like filler after a while. In contrast, I loved watching Lee Deok Hwa as King Yeongjo who's unpredictably manic responses made some of the conflicts much more exciting to watch than they normally would be for me. I'm not the biggest fan of 'fight for the crown' storylines, but the characters were well done which made me care more. This is still primarily a love story, and I'm grateful for that, even if it's a messy one.
Would I watch this again? I think so. I can see myself reading up more on the actual history then revisiting this drama again. I am fascinated by reinterpretations of history but I liked the idea that they tried to give a voice to Sung Deok Im as to what was behind the choices she made in real life, making her an independent court lady struggling to establish her own life by her own rules. I also felt deeply for the story of King Jeongjo and his profound loneliness in contrast to his legacy. I'm sure a lot went over my head during the first viewing so it may even be better the second time around.
I do appreciate that this drama has 17 episodes, so they didn't have to rush through the ending at all, but there were parts that started to drag and get too repetitive for me towards the end. The mixed signals and constant rejection plot really did affect the pace and my interest, but one thing that kept me from ever being too bored is the absolutely breathtaking cinematography. They really went above and beyond with how some of the scenes were shot. I would often rewind just to have a second glance at an image on the screen. You can see the care in the direction.
Overall, "The Red Sleeve" may not be for the "does this have a happy ending?" crowd but it is a beautiful take on this historical love story that doesn't shy away from the true events or the harsh dynamics of life in the palace. The excitement and longing in this drama is palpable and I think that is its main appeal. I also never read the Novel but I get a sense of what it was adapted from through the characters' internal thoughts, without them ever abusing narration in the script too much. Dramas often explore what we would sacrifice for love but rarely what we won't. I had strong opinions about Deok Im's reasoning and Yi San's persistence but in the end, I was fully invested in their love story. The only thing stopping this from being a new favorite of mine is some repetitiveness and my lack of interest in the political plots. Jun Ho's performance alone is enough to make this a much watch Sagaek and drama overall. Seeing a female character deviate from the 'Cinderalla as goals' narrative is also refreshing in a lot of ways, even when she annoyed me. It may not be the type of escapism that many romance fans look for in a drama, and yes many tears will likely be shed, but believe the rating hype on this one. A romance without romanticizing too much. A love story that challenges whether together is the best choice. An attempt at giving a voice to a voiceless royal concubine. If you know the story and wonder "What kind of woman back then would have the nerve to reject a king?!!" this drama answers that question very well... in an intriguing, hilarious, exciting, heartbreaking, and poetic way.
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Choi Jin Hyuk and Song Ha Yoon have amazing chemistry, whether their circumstances are ridiculously silly, or more serious. I admit that Song Ha Yoon as Joo Ki Beum had to grow on me, but Choi Jin Hyuk as Gong Ma Sung is super sexy from the start. It's not just his obvious physical appeal, which is more than enough, but everything from his mischievous smile to his more heartbreaking scenes pretty much solidified any crush I already had on him. Together they made this hot mess of a story HOT, and work much better than it should have.
I think the story tried to be too many things with too many conflicting genre elements (comedy, tragedy, mystery, rivalries...). Amnesia is probably one of the most cliché drama plots already, but this one overcomplicates the story with a cheesy but shocking first episode that reeled me in, but not enough substance in the plot to keep the story interesting for 16 episodes.
I don't think it was the casts' fault at all. The villains were extra villainy, I liked the whole supporting cast (especially cute bromance with Hoya, Joy's poetic alcoholic dad, Ma Sung's sarcastic assistant, and Jun Soo Kyung who was pretty epic in her 2-dimensional evil ajumma role), also Ma Sung is sufficiently shirtless... but about halfway through, the extreme silliness and heartbreaking moments felt too repetitive to hold my attention. It was only my curiosity about how it would end, and my addiction to the main couples chemistry, that kept me watching. The story could have easily been told in 10 episodes or less so there's A LOT of filler. I would have given it a higher rating if it were shorter.
Would I watch this again? Only if I could skip through most of it. Seeing Choi Jin Hyuk is definitely a good motivator to at least revisit certain scenes, but even his self-assured smirk and shower scenes aren't always enough.
I did think the ending was cute, so I am happy I didn't drop it, although I didn't appreciate some of the filler tropes in the final episodes.
Overall, like the cheesy "Goodbye" song in the OST I couldn't help singing along to, I know this show is more of a guilty pleasure than a great drama. There was still enough about it that I liked to say you might like it too. Many romcom fans would probably be willing to sacrifice logic for a romance that makes them smile, and that's definitely what it takes to be a fan of "Devilish Joy".
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Not what I expected in the best way!
"The Secret Romantic Guesthouse" is nothing like what I expected it to be. It has a lot of elements that are in some of my favorite sageuks but has a unique balance between being seriously dramatic and comedically lighthearted. The story does take a few emotional turns without ever becoming too heavy. The title definitely doesn't do this drama any justice. Yes, romance is a big part of the story but there are also revenge plots, a tyrant king, a secret rebellion, and some truly great characters. This drama is definitely more about the whole ensemble than one particular couple, and I loved the chemistry between all of the characters as chance and fate brought them all together to become a makeshift family in a random Inn for aspiring scholars.The owner of Ihwawon Inn is Dan Oh played by Shin Ye Eun. I loved that she is a brave, independent, and outspoken character even though sometimes her antics were frustrating to watch. I also love that the plot wasn't just the usual one girl choosing between 3 suitors trope, as the poster suggests. She really has a unique relationship with each male lead and they have the same unique relationships with each other as well. Ryeoun plays the aloof fighter Kang San who doesn't warm to people too easily, but I loved his smile whenever he did. Jung Gun Joo plays the thoughtful and scholarly Jung Yoo Ha, the most straight-laced of the bunch without being boring. And Kang Hoon plays the silly Kim Shi Yeol who never seems to take anything too seriously, and definitely became my favorite. It was easy for me to really start to care about each of the leads from the beginning, but what I loved most is that none of them were exactly as they seemed and always kept me guessing. With each episode, we learn more about each character's past and motivations, which kept every episode interesting till the very end.
The entire supporting cast is just as great as the leads, although I won't go into too much detail to avoid spoilers. The King and Chief Administer, however, were so irredeemably evil that I loved to root against them, yet even their single-minded goals made me empathize with them during some of their evilest moments. I think that's because the characters were really well written even if they all weren't necessarily complex. None of the characters felt like filler, and no scene felt useless either. There may have been a few minor moments that made me roll my eyes but it all came together and made sense in the end.
Would I watch this again? Definitely. Mostly I would want to watch knowing what I learned about the characters from the beginning. I already rewatched the first episode and certain scenes hit differently once you know how the story will evolve. Maybe some moments will drag watching it for the second time, but I liked the characters so much I would still be entertained.
My only real complaint is that the kiss moments were so disappointing. All the chemistry in the world just feels ruined by dead fish emotionless lip touch where a passionate kiss should be. Ryeoun tried his best to make it sexy, but Shin Ye Eun... just yuck.
Overall, this drama tells a great story and I think it will appeal to people who don't want a historical drama that is too depressing or a romcom that is too silly. This is directed by the director of The Princess's Man, one of my favorite sageuks of all time, so the action scenes are great too... especially the Watchman battles. If you like dramas that will keep you guessing. this one does a great job of always introducing a new and unexpected element even when you think you have it all figured out. I say this as a person who is easily bored by fighting for the crown plots but the pace was great so I didn't have a chance to be bored.
I was sad at the end of 18 episodes to say goodbye to these characters, and that's more than enough for me to recommend this drama. I didn't cry, I don't have any new favorite couples to add to my list, but by the end, I felt like I went on a journey with these characters with them finally living the lives they were meant to and that's the best kind of ending for me.
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The best thing about this drama is the cast, and I don't mean just the leads. The only thing that kept me watching towards the end were the ensemble of doctors, who I had grown to like a lot (especially super cute Kim Min Suk). There were also some good guest appearances, and some intense medical storylines, but as a non hospital drama fan, the stories started to wear thin after a while.
But back to the main couple... I am still not sure how I felt about them.
In the beginning Park Shin Hye's character is really interesting, a rebel with a high IQ seemed like a character I could root for. She is matched with Kim Rae Won who plays a beloved teacher and mentor, and that's when things get weird... chester the molester weird. The romance was hard for me to root for, because a teacher giving inappropriate attention to a student isn't very romantic to me, even if he is a nice guy. It didn't stop me from being curious however, so I kept watching to see how it would evolve. Although I loved the way they worked together in surgery (those scenes were intense), their love story was just frustrating, and often boring. I know the Hye Jung character was written to be difficult, with walled up emotions, but even the sociopath doctor in "Beautiful Mind" seemed to be better at romance than her. In spite of Ji Hong's cute devotion and patience with her, I never could did get excited about their romantic storyline. There are a few "cute" moments, but they often felt forced. For me, the chemistry just wasn't there.
Then there's Seo Woo, who I oddly thought was the most sympathetic in a weird way. I didn't like her, but I felt so bad for her throughout the show. Although her character was pretty much reduced to being jealous for 20 episodes, I still empathized with her. The friendship storyline was my favorite part of the drama, and she had the only scene that made me tear up.
Uhm Hyo Seop, who played her dad, was my least favorite. His character is a greedy villain, but also dumb and childish. I like to root for good villains, but I couldn't take him seriously. I don't know if that's bad acting, bad writing, or both. He had waaaaay too much screen time and importance.
Other characters like Yoon Do and BFF Soon Hee didn't have enough of a storyline. I wish more time was spent on developing that than on the boring revenge and hospital corruption plot that dominates the second half of the show. They did give the story a pretty good ending, but I already stopped caring by the final episode.
So would I watch this again? No. What about the soundtrack? I barely remember it.
Overall this started out as a potentially good drama that just couldn't keep up the momentum for 20 episodes. Of all the doctors shows that are out there now, I would say it's safe to skip this one.
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The most impressive part of this show is Jang Hyuk as Dr. Lee Yeong Oh. I've only seen him in Fated to Love You (which I LOVED), but he is completely unrecognizable compared to that role. His portrayal of a doctor who lacks empathy surprisingly tugged at my emotions. He was so good that it was impossible not to sympathize with his character. His approach to each case sometimes was reminiscent of the show "House", but I did find his character to be very unique. His performance alone would make me recommend this drama.
He is matched with Park So Dam as Gye Jin Sung. She was very cute, and played her role well, but I wasn't that impressed to be honest. In the beginning her character is written to be annoying, but that eventually turns into an awkwardness that is endearing. She also has pretty good chemistry with Jang Hyuk, and some really cute scenes, but there's no strong spark between them. Part of me wonders if a more mature actress would have made a better match for a strong character like Dr. Lee. It also may be too hard for some romance fans to root for the way the male lead uses Jin Sung. It didn't bother me, but I can see how some viewers may not like how gullible, and easy she is.
The supporting cast is also strong, especially the main hospital staff. Some of the "bad guys" are a little too cliché for me, or not interesting enough to mention. Still, I think the cast is the strongest part of this show, they just didn't have a good enough story to support them.
The story was interesting at first, but I think it honestly became too complicated. The amount of betrayal, and corruption kept increasing, and I stopped being able to completely follow who was bad, and why. There was also a major personality change for one of the main characters which made that character less interesting to me. Then there was the complicated father son relationship, which was one of the most interesting parts of the show for me, but that story, and the romance story, were too often overshadowed by the hospital corruption plot which bored me. In spite my feelings about hospital dramas, I liked how the patient stories served to reveal new things about Dr. Lee, and I thought those stories were done well. I wish the overall drama focused more on that, and Dr. Lee, then maybe I would have liked it more.
The writers did do a good job of ending the show early without it feeling too rushed. I don't even think that having 2 extra episodes would have necessarily been any better. I prefer that a show be cut short rather than dragged out with nothing new to add.
Overall I liked this show, but the start was much stronger than the finish. I don't really see myself watching it again, but I certainly don't regret watching. Like I said before, the main character is interesting enough that I would recommend watching this, but don't expect an epic romance, or an amazing thriller. In spite of my moderate review, I do agree that this show is underrated. I've seen much worse shows have much more popularity, so don't let the fact that it's unpopular fool you!
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On the surface this is another romance about a girl who pretends to be a boy, and gets away with it, and a spoiled rich guy who falls for her. What makes Coffee Prince different, is that there is so much more depth than is usually in KDrama romances (yes, even the good ones). The themes are more realistic, and the content is more adult. Coffee Prince shows us how extremely complicated love can be, while still being fun to watch.
The cast is perfect. Yoon Eun Hye is the most convincing androgynous character I've seen in any drama. It's more than her just looking enough like a boy, it's her whole demeanor that makes the idea of her being mistaken as male completely plausible. Gong Yoo is charmingly goofy, and instantly crushable (watching this began my minor obsession with him). Equally crushable is Lee Sun Gyun, who I would fall in love with again later in Pasta, but is much more kinder, gentler, and understanding in this role. Then there is Chae Jung Ahn, who is frustrating to watch, and hard to like, but equally brilliant. The chemistry between them all is amazingly acted, and their story is well written. People who aren't fans of romances normally, may appreciate how imperfect this story is. There are also plenty of cute moments to inspire butterflies in die hard romance fans. It also has the most beautiful love confession in the history of dramaland period ! (or rather, exclamation point)
The minor characters are also very well played. I loved the dynamics between the Coffee Princes too! This is the kind of cast that you miss when the show is finally over. I can't believe Lee Eon died shortly after, but he was my favorite of the other "princes".
The only thing mediocre about this drama is the music, which is fine, but I did not rush out to find the soundtrack, even after obsessing over this drama.
The other criticism is that the drama does become a little less engaging in the final episodes, but at that point you will probably love the characters so much that it won't make you love the show any less. The ending wraps things up perfectly in my opinion.
My main reason for writing this review now, even though this was one of the first dramas I ever saw, was to promote it's re-watchability. It also manages to not feel as dated as many dramas tend to be over time. Besides the flip phone technology, this drama could easily be successful today. It's also very timely, concerning issues regarding gender roles and sexuality, which is a hot topic these days. In that respect, maybe it's ahead of it's time.
So, yes, of course I recommend Coffee Prince! It remains high on my drama favorites list, with no signs of being bumped lower any time soon. If this is one of those dramas that you always meant to watch, but never got a chance to, just do it! This is one of those occasions when it is safe to believe the hype!
*warning: not only may you very likely crave coffee while watching, but you may either be tempted to eat everything in your fridge, or be too disgusted to ever eat again, after watching Eun Chan eat!*
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