1
manicmuse
NYC!
Too much talk and not enough plot.
I expected "Doom at Your Service" to easily become a new drama favorite of mine. It starsSeo In Guk as an attractive and mysterious male lead, which is his specialty and almost a guarantee that I'll get hooked, but his storyline is hijacked by a mediocre love triangle/fractured bromance that made me lose any interest I had. Instead of getting a fully fleshed-out-fantasy- romance about Doom itself going against character and falling in love with a depressed woman, I got a boring office drama about writers and editors with way too much dialogue and not enough plot. This is also meant to be a tear-jerker yet my eyes remained dry the entire time. This drama went from addictive to barely watchable fast. I almost dropped it in the last episodes because it dragged so much. Maybe a more dynamic female lead could have kept me interested longer. Even though Park Bo Young may be cute, and even likable, she annoyed me as the Tak Dong Kyung.
Dong Kyung as a character starts off amazing. She does the unexpected, she appears brave and considerate and clever, but as the story loses direction so does the character. There were too many Park Bo Young scenes with her crying/whining before I had a chance to fully connect with the character's situation. I also felt declining chemistry between her and Seo In Guk as Doom/Sa Ram. What started with an interesting connection turned into long conversations and repetitive fantasy sequences but not a love story I could connect with. I'm just gonna say it, Seo In Guk is much better at passionate scenes and showing depth (like in "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes"), and he tried to carry many of their scenes with subtle choices I loved, but having Park Bo Young play so innocent, almost childish, missed the mark for me. She also seemed too indifferent about literally dying for too long. The denial in the beginning aside, which worked well, as episodes evolved I just didn't believe she was a woman making life or death choices which stopped me from caring enough to cry or just fall in love with the story. I can't say she was bad in the role, she just wasn't good enough to make me buy into this unusual plot. Big Park Bo Young fans may feel differently and be more forgiving, which would make a huge difference in whether you like this drama or not. She is in 2 unique concept dramas that I loved "Strong Woman Do Bong Soon" and "Oh My Ghostess", where being cute worked much better, but not this time. I was unimpressed.
The next problematic character for me is Jeong Ji So as "God". I didn't mind the whole Dora The Explorer Diety Gardner thing, or her performance, but her esoteric unclear presence in the story was more frustrating than interesting. Mainly, again, because she talked too much and showed too little (besides random plants). Maybe some things were lost in translation, but her long conversations and observations may be good in a novel, or a webtoon, but on screen, it just drags and bored me almost to sleep at times. I'm wondering if the dialogue sounds so "beautiful" in Korean that the writer fell too in love with their own words to cut any of it down and remember that showing is more compelling than telling on screen. Yes, there were a few well-done visual scenes but they were still mostly overwhelmed by talking. Too many scenes of the leads just staring at each other in bed (together and apart) was a huge romantic disappointment too. They were damn near platonic for such an epic fated love story, with too much narration. It lacked enough passion to sustain the story to the end and by the time things resolved I barely cared.
Oh, and about that extra love triangle, usually even a cliché love triangle has exciting scenes and chemistry but nope... these 3 characters also just have lots of conversations about the past, about each other, about what they may want to do or should have done, with very little actual progress. I think Lee Soo Hyuk as blunt and straight-faced Cha Joo Ik was supposed to be funny, but I found those banter scenes to be flat. I'm sure much of that intended dry humor was lost on me as well. For me, just having two attractive men isn't enough to fuel a love triangle romance plot. It also has nothing to do with the Doom plot, which makes it seem like unnecessary filler or a different drama.
I did like her brother's character, mainly for cute comic relief, but most of the other characters are just ok, and pretty forgettable (Shout out to poor Kevin who didn't even make the cast list lol).
Would I watch this again? I wouldn't torture myself like that. I'm sure a lot of these actors will go on to better dramas that I'll watch and I will probably forget this drama even exists after a while.
The OST is also forgettable but oh how I love Seo In Guk's voice. Rather, I just love him and his beautiful voice is a bonus. I didn't fall in love with any songs though... or his hair color.
Overall this drama is a huge miss. Maybe it's good if you want to hear more Korean dialogue than usual as language practice (it's A LOT y'all) but I can't call this drama good. It is an ambitious and pretty original idea but that's not enough to make this drama work as a whole. Characters saying how they feel instead of showing it for me felt like a romance buzz kill and lazy. If this drama had no Doom character I would have dropped it almost immediately. I also expected tears, since sadly cancer scenarios are too familiar in my real life, but my eyes remained dry the entire time. And what's worse than abusing flashbacks... describing flashbacks as you abuse and overuse them. I looked up the last drama written by this writer and it was "The Beauty Inside", another drama with all concept and zero plot. Another movie plot idea stretched beyond its means. Another missed opportunity to create a really interesting love story. Maybe I should have double-checked who the writer was before I decided not to drop this. Sadly, those who don't learn which drama writers create shows they should have dropped are doomed to repeat it.
I guess Seo In Guk was too good at his Doom role because he doomed me to complete this.
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Guilty Pleasure
"So I Married an Anti-Fan" is a mediocre drama at best but also highly addictive. I did not see the original, so I can't compare it, but the appeal of this drama has nothing to do with the story and everything to do with the chemistry between the two main leads. The concept is standard, two people who can't stand each other falling for each other. It may be cliché, but that's what this drama gets right. Unfortunately, the rest of the drama is filled with an annoying rivalry and a 2nd toxic couple that gets way too much screen time. Still, it was all more entertaining than not, until the last episodes at least, and the exact kind of romcom junk food I sometimes crave.This drama stars Choi Tae Joon as Hoo Joon, a worldwide pop star whose public image contradicts how and who he is in real life. Is he the most believable pop star? Not really, but his low-key arrogance did work well for the role. He is matched with Choi Soo Young as Lee Geun Young an ambitious reporter who is also super passive until an encounter with Hoo Joon pushes her over the edge. I guess it's pretty cute to have the pop star play the anti-fan, and I liked her in the role. Their story is filled with annoying misunderstandings, ridiculous coincidences, and cute banter, and the latter is what got me hooked. No matter how corny the story got I was completely invested and couldn't wait for the next episodes. The chemistry is just really good, and it's been a while since I've seen a couple this fun to watch... corniness and all. Neither of them gives truly amazing performances, but I still loved watching them flirt and fight on screen.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, you have Hwang Chan Sung as JJ matched with Han Ji An
as Oh In Hyung, two truly unlikeable characters. Both are Z list stars desperate for fame and jealous of their former colleague Hoo Joon's success. If you like characters that make you so mad you want to yell at the screen then they fit the bill. They both do a good job at being awful but their acting is also super overdramatic, which does fit the style of the drama. Their whole storyline from start to finish is a mess though and takes up way too much of this drama's time.
Other characters are great too, including Hoo Joon's Hottie manager, the reality show staff, Geun Young's friends, and the real scene stealers... Geun Young's parents. The whole cast honestly does a good job with this weak plot. You know a show is bad when they have to constantly rely on flashbacks... the same flashbacks... over and over again. I also will never understand what Korean's expect from celebrities so these scandal-trope storylines are hard to get into. The whole premise of creating this reality show also made no sense to me either. The show within a show concept just felt like an excuse to force them into cute situations, which worked for me, but that's what makes this drama more of a guilty pleasure than great.
Would I watch this again? Sure with, with my finger ready to fast forward when necessary (especially every "who's my daddy?" scene). I would even endure listening to the same 3 annoying songs over and over... I swear "Baby, youuuuuuuuuu" will haunt my nightmares... And I would definitely skip most of the final episode which was painfully slow and seemed thrown together without a plan. I get that covid delays may be somewhat to blame, but it was still really bad.
Overall, If you don't like the main couple this drama doesn't really have much else to offer. I liked them so much I would watch them team up again for a better storyline. I admit I had a lot of fun reading Viki commentary while watching which probably made me tolerate bad moments more. This is definitely a watch with friends and talk back at the screen kind of drama. If you're looking for a meaningful script with depth, you've come to the wrong drama. At most you get some basic character growth. If you're a romance fan with a high tolerance for tropes then you might end up being a fan like me. I felt a little like the leads, falling for what I initially expected to hate. "So I Married an Anti-Fan" may not be a great drama but Drama youuuuuuuuuuuu... I'm still with you!
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At least it was short
"Mad for Each Other" is a classic-style romcom about 2 people with issues falling for each other. It's not hard for me to like a drama like this as long as there is great chemistry, but this drama was very hard for me to really like. Thankfully it was short, which made it much easier to watch even during its cringiest moments. There were many moments in this drama that made me cringe and made me frustrated instead of falling for and sympathizing with the main couple. I also think there may have been too many cultural differences for me (as an American) to consider a lot of this funny, or maybe it's just not my style of comedy. Do you find irrational misunderstandings hilarious? Then you will love this drama way more than I did. Irrational Misunderstandings would actually be a good alternative title for this drama!"Mad for Each Other" stars Jung Woo as Noh Hwi Oh, a suspended cop with lots of empathy and sensitivity and a quick temper. He is matched with Oh Yeon Seo as Lee Min Kyung, a woman whose trauma makes her extremely distrustful of... well... everyone. Both of these characters are way over the top on purpose but as much as I grew to love the male lead I honestly couldn't stand the female lead for most of this drama. Hwi Oh has big angry teddy bear energy which makes him easy to like. I also liked that he had average guy swag, which was nice to see for a change. Min Kyung on the other hand is a mess of a character. She wears a flower proudly in her hair so people know she's the kind of crazy you should probably avoid, but her baby-talk voice and constant accusations were honestly annoying enough on their own. I like weird female leads, but I lost patience watching her, and I think that was an issue with how she was written as well as the performance. Of course, the setup for the drama is that the caring mad dog will become a protector for the woman too scared to trust, but how do they get past their issues? That also means a lot of scenes with the female lead being selfish and irrational in THE MOST ridiculous ways...for the sake of comedy and drama... but it just wasn't funny to me.
The rest of the cast is hit or miss. There are annoying gossipy neighbors who were great, and old fellow cops who are fine, a forgettable therapist, a psycho, and two random characters that just felt like weird filler... a girl with too many part-time jobs and "Samantha" which I guess was an attempt at adding some LGBTQ "understanding" to the story... but those "comedic" scenes felt very dated. I think this drama tried to bring up some heavy topics like abuse, cyberbullying, transphobia but still keep the story super light and silly which made it hard to take seriously.
Would I watch this again. I doubt it, but it is short, and the cute moments between the leads when they are not screaming at each other or chasing each other are pretty good. I admit by episode 12 I disliked this drama A LOT (too much of the same frustrating tropes) but in the last episode, they did manage to cram everything in and make sure all was resolved, which gave me some peace. I mean the OST did imply that they would make the ending happy, I guess. lol.
Overall, other romance fans may be way more forgiving of this drama than I. There was a nice overarching theme about finding allies, but it didn't connect with me very deeply because of the style of the drama, or maybe the writing. If you like really silly comedy maybe you will find this funny and more endearing. I also hated "Love with Flaws", starring the same actress, for similar reasons. The more I think about it, what I disliked about that drama does overlap with this one except this drama has a much better male lead. Awkwardness, misunderstandings, LGBTQ awareness attempts, of course poop jokes, and wide-eyed Yeon Seo... once again, none of these things worked for me. It didn't make me emotional or make me laugh, but it did make me a little curious and a little invested in how their relationship would evolve, and it did obviously work enough for me to keep watching. The main thing I'd recommend about this drama is that it's the perfect binge length (13x30 min episodes), so I regret watching it while it was airing. I've just seen a similar dynamic in rom-coms done so much better so many times that this one felt like watching a placeholder until a better drama comes along. In the end, I'm not mad at or for this drama.
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A haunted house real estate expert is pretty genius.
"Sell Your Haunted House" is a supernatural thriller with a strong female lead, which for me is the perfect setup for a new drama favorite, but even though I did enjoy watching every episode of this drama I was also slightly disappointed. I loved the whole exorcism world and Jang Na Ra's character being like an angsty superhero. What I didn't love was the anti-climactic relationship between the leads. This drama definitely tells a great and emotional story while still leaving room for humor, but when it comes to the leads this drama seemed to play with my emotions. It does make some sense according to the lore of the show to not have an actual romance fully develop, but I would have enjoyed it more if it did, since it was constantly implied. This is one of the main reasons why, for me, "Sell Your Haunted House" felt like a season one drama. Like an origin story.Jang Na Ra as bad@ss Hong Ji Ah and Jung Yong Hwa as psychic fraud Oh In Beom definitely work well together in a dynamic duo way. Ji Ah is a psychic Batman, and In Beom is her Robin, and although there is some flirting chemistry, mainly they are there to balance each other out. I did really like the non-traditional gender dynamic with Ji Ah taking the kind of role usually reserved for male leads. She's strong, she's intimidating, she's guarded, but also vulnerable, and as usual Jang Na Ra gives an amazing performance. She rarely disappoints, and I think this is my favorite role I've seen her play. On the other hand, Jung Yong Hwa is an actor I've been pretty indifferent to in spite of liking many dramas he's in. Matching him with such an established older lead could have easily faded him into the background but he holds his own in the story. He also has some fun scenes where he gets to play with variety. I won't overlook him again after this.
For me, the true star of this drama is the story. Yes, It's part melodrama, so there is a haunted by the past element (literally lol) that could have been very cliché but I thought it was extremely suspenseful and interesting. If you've ever lost someone in an unexpected death it'll be hard not to empathize with the storylines, especially the main one, and the themes of guilt and wanting to hold on. The realty angle is also a nice twist on the whole lady ghostbuster theme. The writers really do a good job of marrying suspense with some over-the-top campy moments and characters. The main villian was a little too extreme sometimes but it was also fun to have a character you could absolutely despise 100 percent. It helps that the entire cast is great, although some of the sillier characters made me lower my cast rating. I do have to mention Kang Hong Suk and Kang Mal Geum who help complete the main team, and I really liked them both.
The director was also exceptional and really made this ghost world feel fun like a comic book but still realistic and extremely cool. I'm curious to see what drama he does next.
Would I watch this again? Sure. It would be a little less exciting the second time around, knowing the full story, but it was fun, visually exciting, and touching enough to still be entertaining. I'm more curious about whether or not there will be a season two, which seems very possible by the ending, but I was very satisfied with the ending as is too... aside from the platonic leads.
Overall this is a great supernatural drama that isn't too scary or too silly. It stars such a clever and unique main character and that's enough for me to recommend this drama! Romance fans will probably feel a little disappointed but there are a few cute moments so it's not totally romance-free. It also got me a few times in the feels without being too heavy, although some parts of the story really broke my heart. I can see this show's format having so many possibilities for continuing the story, so if there is a "Sell Your Haunted House: Season 2" I'm Sold!
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Retro romance balanced well with harsh history.
I absolutely love when historical tragedies are humanized. That's what you get with "Youth of May". Yes, this is a love story, but more than that this is a look at a horrible moment in Korean history from the perspective of characters we grow to love through the series. Is this frustrating to watch? Yes. Is it heartbreaking? Absolutely. Is it inspiring? Also, yes. This drama does a great job of showing various perspectives, many possibly romanticized, but also relatable. I knew nothing about the Gwangju Uprising before watching and it immediately led me to want to know much more. You don't need to know the history to follow this drama, just prepare to be shocked.The story revolves around Go Min Si as Kim Myung Hee, and Lee Do Hyun as Hwang Hee Tae. It's their love story, meant only to be a brief fling, that draws you in. Together they are super cute and have great chemistry. Myung Hee is determined to have a future in medicine while Hee Tae takes life less seriously and is more focused on a music contest than academics. Hee Tae also has serious anxiety based on past guilt and trauma, and Myung Hee has daddy issues. These are 2 fully developed characters, and that's what made me care about them so much. Initially, their story is what you would normally expect when people from two different statuses try to date, including obligatory controlling parents, but simmering in the background there is political conflict ready to explode. Both actors were really good at keeping the romance story fresh while still handling the more painful and action-packed scenes. They are a very memorable couple.
The rest of the cast is great as well. Since the point is to get to know this city I think they did a good job of giving us time to get to know everyone before the story shifts. I also liked that many of the characters are imperfect and make mistakes or become unexpected heroes throughout. Even Oh Man Suk, as the worst dad ever, didn't just feel like a caricature of a villain. This is a melodrama so some of the acting and scenes are over the top, yet it was all still completely real. Even the kids were super impressive, and I loved that they had their own part in the story as well.
Would I watch this again? Yes, but next time I would love to watch knowing even more about what happened 5/18/80, what followed, and how public opinion evolved. I also would be better prepared in a rewatch for this to not just be a nostalgic romance but a real tear-jerker. It's also the perfect length for a story like this. Not too long or too short, and easy to binge. It has a satisfying ending without being idealistic or heavy-handed, and knowing what happens doesn't ruin anything because the message at the end is so strong. I'm also sure I missed so many details.
This drama also inspired me to finally watch "A Taxi Driver", another great perspective on the Gwangju Uprising and its victims. This drama has a similar, easily digestible, style.
Overall I would definitely recommend "Youth of May" with the warning to know what you're getting into when watching. Its 80's nostalgia and retro romance balanced well with harsh reality, but it's not all tears. It really does aim to give honor to victims and survivors while not reducing them to only that. This isn't a drama about revolutionaries, it's a haunting look at how the revolution can come to you whether you are ready for it or not and no matter where you stand... even if all you care about is a spring fling. Gather your tissues, and prepare your heart.
"Youth of May" is a historical melodrama done right.
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Sometimes staying dead is better.
This drama is a mess. I watched because of the number of great reviews, and my expectations were too high. "Born Again" tries to be an ill-fated love triangle, a crime thriller, and a revenge thriller and didn't do any of them well enough to carry my interest. Normally I am willing to go with an unbelievable storyline if the cast is really good but I think it missed the mark here too. The male leads did their best, but the story centers around the love of one woman and unfortunately, that character wasn't interesting enough to make me care or justify their obsessive love.Based on the title this isn't a spoiler but each lead plays 2 characters. Jung Sa Bin plays Ha Eun and Sa Bin. Both characters for me were too similar and too one-note. I could blame the writing but since this is the second romantic drama lead I've seen her play that was boring I think I have to admit I am not a fan. She played off of being wide-eyed and innocent too much and even her crying scenes lacked emotion that I could feel. I was also annoyed by her speaking with that soft childish voice. Don't even get me started on her dead fish kisses and robotic confessions. This story doesn't have the chemistry I needed to carry the drama and that was my same issue with her performance in the "Grand Prince". Even attractive male leads couldn't save her perfromance.
She is matched with Lee Soo Hyuk as Soo Hyuk and Hyung Bin, who plays the annoying stubborn cop cliché which is one of my least favorite drama tropes, but at least his perfromance is good. She is also matched with Jang Ki Yong as Jong Bum and Gong Ji Chul who has the most complicated roles and also does a good job. Out of all of the performances Jang Ki Yong's was my favorite but it was still missing some of the spark I saw him have in "Search: www" (which I watched at the same time). I really think that these two actors with a better female lead could have made me like this drama a little more and be more forgiving of the plot.
I also have a major issue with the idea that 3 people are reborn in a short amount of time (30 ish years later) and are almost identical to their past selves and happen to work and live in the same area but pretty much no one notices??!!! It can maybe make sense for one of the characters but for the other two it really doesn't make any sense at all. The male lead rivalry also felt too repetitive after a while. I was way more interested in what the side characters were up to (Lee Seo El needed more screen time). The only question that kept me watching was who she would end up with and that was less about me caring and more about putting an end to my curiosity misery.
Would I watch this again? Not even if you paid me. I may even avoid all Jin Se Yeon dramas for a while. Honestly, this probably would have worked better as a movie considering all the overused flashbacks and not much story development until the very end. There arent really any rewatch worthy moments for me, and are way too many fast-forward worthy scenes. I did appreciate the music but it made some scenes seem even cheesier.
Was it worth watching until the end? Yes, and no. Many of the secrets and motivations of the characters are finally revealed in the final episodes but it was too late for me to care and it didn't make me like the drama any better. It no longer mattered to me who she chose and why. The end was also messy. I thought I would at least shed a tear over it but my eyes stayed dry for this entire drama... and "Born Again" is filled with sadness topped with more sadness, and I'm a crybaby.
Overall this drama drags and disappoints. It had potential as a memorable makjang but it missed the mark on the romantic chemistry it needed to make this story addictive instead of forgetable. It could have been much more fun, even with the ridiculous plot, if the performances were just as over the top or charismatic. The older actors were much better at this but their scenes and storylines were cast aside for more boring love triangle scenes. The leads try to take this and themselves way too seriously and most of their deadpan conversations were too skip-tastic. If you don't fall in love with "Born Again" at first episode I suggest skipping this drama completely.
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Did someone say plot twist?!!!
"Sweet & Sour" could have been a better movie but sadly everything that makes it good is packed into the last 15 minutes. If "Got emm" was a movie, this would be it, but don't waste your time trying to guess what will happen. Sadly the twist at the end is the payoff for enduring the rest of the movie, which was a struggle for me. The majority of this movie is about a bad relationship, but we don't get a chance to really fall in love with the couple or the characters first so it was hard to care and not just be frustrated at the repetitive problems and fights. It honestly felt like a waste of actors that I normally really like and that's the most disappointing part.I am a fan of Chae Soo Bin (since I am not a Robot), but I felt cheated out of getting the chance to actually get to like Da Eun. In the beginning her weirdness is interesting but once the story focuses on the relationship everything is about Jang Hyuk's new job and changing perspective and as much as I like Jang Ki Yong he is not likable in this role at all. Yes, both actors do a decent job with showing a "realistic" relationship but they don't have the chemistry nor are they interesting enough to keep the story engaging. Krystal as Bo Young is meant to add some exciting rivalry and chemistry to the story but her performance was too one note for me. In this case the character seemed better written than acted out. She wasn't horrible but I was far from impressed.
The one high rating I have for this drama is rewatch -ability. Once I saw the end I wanted to watch it all again from the beginning with a new perspective. Unfortunately, the majority of the movie would still be mediocre. The retro synth music makes it even cheesier. Also, it's really hard to make scenes interesting when so many of them require reading text messages.
Overall I get why this movie would be popular and highly recommended but that doesn't mean it's good. There are certain things that are never explained (like why was the mysterious wingman constantly messed with the lights lol) and too many work is sooo hard scenes, but by the end I didn't regret watching it and could appreciate the writing more, plus I'm curious about the book it's based on. Maybe if this was a drama instead we could have gotten to know and like the characters enough to make the plot have a stronger impact but this movie felt like it was rushed AND like it dragged simultaneously. With a title like Sweet & Sour I expected this to be less bland.
Still, maybe with different expectations, this movie may suit your taste. I'd prefer more spice!
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Binge worthy Teen Angst
"Here's My Plan" is the perfect example of a drama not overstaying its welcome. At four episodes, it is the perfect satisfying length for binging. Not too short but not dragged on for too long. This is a darker teen coming of age drama, although it's much more intriguing than depressing. Think more teen "Fight Club" style, complete with an inner monologue throughout explaining all the motivations behind the crazy twists and turns. This is more than a story about a plan going from bad to worse to much worse. There is a suspenseful element to the story, with a touch of revenge and romance, but mainly it's a confession from a girl dealing with her past traumas in very unconventional ways. I loved that the story was so unpredictable and kept my interest throughout, and the cast was perfect.Leading the cast is Kim Hwan Hee who is brilliant as Lee So Hyun. What made So Hyun so interesting to me is that she isn't very likable, or a "good" person, but you kinda can't help but empathize with her. We see what fuels her choices , so even when those choices frustrated me I still sympathized with her and wanted to see her win in the end. Kim Hwan Hee brings a lot of depth to the character so you can still feel her vulnerability even when she's being cold or calculating. I also felt sadness in her smile which was something mentioned by Yoon Ho who is played so well by Kim Do Hoon. Cho Yoon Ho balances out So Hyun's more anti-social vibe with his genuine concern and caring for others. By the end of episode one I absolutely adored his character. I loved their awkward but realistic chemistry, and he showcased the kind of likability that will make him an ideal romantic lead in the future. Their odd relationship isn't exactly the main plot, so don't expect too much romance, but it definitely fuels how everything progresses.
Every member of the cast really is great! I don't want to mention too much to avoid spoilers but there are no weak links in this story. It's also a pretty small cast which gives you space to feel like you know the characters better. My favorite character by far is the Grandma! She's the real MVP!
Would I watch this again? Yes! Although some of the excitement of wondering what will happen next is gone, the performances are so solid and the story evolves so well that I can definitely see myself watching this again. Once it was over, I was satisfied and didn't feel the urge to rewatch any scene in particular (except maybe one), which is the only reason my rewatch rating isn't high.
The music is good too. I thought the retro and British punk vibe matched the angsty mood of the drama well. There's no memorable ballad or song (besides Girls & Boys), but I did think the music did well in setting the mood of the drama.
Overall, I highly recommend this drama. It's emo, it's about trauma, it's about revenge, it's heartbreaking but the pace and style makes it also... dare I say... fun to watch. If you are looking for cuteness and feel good escapism this is the wrong drama for you. I liked the theme of figuring out what happiness is and whether you can be happy even having to deal with painful circumstances, and I loved the resolution for that. Many will compare this with "Extracuricular", which is similar as far as angst and empathetic young anti-hero leads, but this is not an action thriller, it's a story of self discovery and healing told in a less conventional way. I loved that the main character's journey is messy. Some of the last episode felt a bit too easily resolved, but the story is solid throughout with no unnecessary scenes or side plots. This drama is a good example of how well that can work! It actually gives you time to binge and go out and have an actual life afterwards! Crazy, right?! I can think of a lot of dramas that I would have probably liked so much better if they were 4 episodes instead of 16. I hope they make more shorter dramas as good as this one.
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Heartbreaking and Inspiring
I missed watching "A Taxi Driver" when it initially became popular but wanting to learn more about the Gwangju Uprising (thanks to currently watching "Youth of May") lead me back. I'm glad I learned a little more of the history before watching it blindly. If you don't know much about Korean history, like me, prepare yourself for a story that's inspiring but brutal and heartbreaking. I love when movies show history from a personal perspective, making it relatable and making me curious to learn more. That's what this movie does so well.This movie stars Song Kang Ho as Kim Man Sup, a struggling single father and taxi driver, and his performance is brilliant. I've never seen a bad performance from him and this is no exception. It's a character similar to the one he would later play so well in "Parasite", basically a man who uses clever instincts to take advantage of an opportunity that leads him to more trouble than he bargained for. I loved seeing the change and internal struggle within his character. It also stars Thomas Kretschmann as Peter (irl Jürgen Hinzpeter) a determined reporter eager to do anything in his power to film what was really happening in Korea even if that puts him in serious danger. His performance is probably my least favorite of the cast but he still does a good job. I just think Song Kang Ho carried many of their scenes together. It's their relationship that is meant to drive the story, and it does, but I was moved even more by the rest of the cast.
This is the part of the review where I once again confess my love for Ryu Joon Yeol, and admit to being biased, but I loved him so much as Goo Jae Shik. He is so a-dork-able and his smile always automatically puts me in a good mood. Still, under all of that quirkiness is an actor with true depth and he really got me in the feels with this role. Yoo Hae Jin as Hwang Tae Sool is another everyday superhero in this movie, and I love how both actors honor the true heroism of everyday citizens.
What I liked about this movie the most is that it's story is told in a simple enough way that you can understand it all even knowing nothing previously about the real history. I also loved the idea of discovering what was happening through the main characters' eyes. I'm not sure how much of what was in this movie is based on real events or not but it immediately made me want to learn even more about real stories of Gwangju out of respect (thank you youtube lol).
Overall, this is a great film but it can be a little tough emotionally so prepare yourself for some tears to fall. Don't let the cute promotional pic fool you. I also loved the ending, and the idea of how strangers can meet briefly and not only change each others lives but the world around them.
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Taking a new spin on revenge...
I really enjoyed so much about "Taxi Driver" and its unique spin on anti-heroes and revenge thrillers, but I also found it messy and even a little hard to follow at times. The Rainbow Taxi Company concept is great and hooked me instantly. I loved the Batman vibes and the based on a true story element to each episode, but the overall plot is all over the place and is saved by a dynamic cast and some epic action sequences. Mainly Lee Je Hoon as Kim Do Gi being awesome!Lee Je Hoon is so amazingly good! I know he has had other great roles but this really is a star vehicle (pun intended) for him! Whether he's casually beating up a gang of thugs, driving fast and furious style, or in hilarious disguise, he is impressive. Also, add to that the emotion he can bring to the role that makes his motivation believable and easy to root for, even while he's clearly breaking the law. He is ultimately what kept me interested from the beginning until the end, especially when parts of the story were frustrating or didn't work for me. Kim Do Gi is the most consistent thing about this whole drama and worth a recommendation to watch on his own.
The rest of the cast is great too. Some of the characters definitely annoyed me, but it was never the actors' fault, even when the performances were super campy. First, there is Kim Eui Sung as
Jang Sung Chul, who I always love as a villain, but it's nice to see him in this light. He still had some duplicity in his performance that he does so well, even as the good guy-ish lol. Pyo Ye Jin, Jang Hyuk Jin, and Bae Yoo Ram play the rest of the team and I loved their unique personalities and care for each other. My one complaint is that Pyo Ye Jin as Ahn Go Eun took a mostly passive role in one storyline that really bothered me. She eventually makes up for it, but I still feel like her character could have been much stronger considering her overall role on the team. Esom as Prosecutor Kang Ha Na was another character that frustrated me. In an attempt to create a rivalry I feel like her character became unreasonably one-note. This also got better towards the end, but I just really dislike the stubborn cop getting in the way trope, and I wish there was more to her character earlier on. She does have interesting chemistry with Kim Do Gi but don't expect anything beyond mutual admiration to come from it.
The shadier characters on the other hand are entertaining but also very cartoony. Cha Ji Yeon has a double role that is pretty impressive and Cha Ji Yeon is almost like a Disney villain as Baek Sung Mi. On the opposite end, you have Lee Yoo Joon as Wang Min Ho who is just super likable and good balance for Ha Na. All of the guest characters were great too which kept the episodes interesting and made you root for the Deluxe Taxi even more. It's hard to go too much into detail without spoilers, but I'm also glad they took extra time to go deeper into some of the revenge stories beyond just focusing on a specific crime and its aftermath.
If you don't like disturbing storylines then this is not a drama from you. This is definitely a crime drama at its core with a ripped from the headlines law & order-y feel. The vigilante twist is what makes this drama unique as well as the clever way they recruit new clients. Where I think this drama messes up is that it seemed like they didn't really think through what the Taxi Company's ultimate goal was and hearing it explained didn't make much sense. Then a sudden plot twist seemed to be thrown in just to give the story a direction, but that plot felt rushed through too. I did like what felt like a change in direction in characters, especially the women characters, and that they seemed to intensify the action scenes. Some of the action sequences in the second half are truly DAEBAK, and are so good I didn't really care what was happening in the story if I'm honest. I also liked the moment where they slipped in some real true-crime footage which did get me right in the feels (even if it contradicted earlier scenes). I just wished the entire plot felt more cohesive.
Would I watch this again? Maybe, but I think I would much rather just watch some of the action sequences again. I did like the dynamic between the characters while watching the first time but I would be much more curious about the possibilities of a season 2... which seemed very possible judging by the final scene (which I loved).
Overall I enjoyed this drama for what it did well and not necessarily as a complete story. I would still recommend it because what it does well is more than enough to entertain! I laughed, I teared up, I was horrified, and I cheered. I love that they challenged what justice is and empowered victims and their families. By the end, I was ok with forgiving all plot holes and too easily resolved conflicts. In the spirit of choosing to seek revenge or not, if you're choosing whether to watch this drama or not, I feel like "Taxi Driver" is a drama I can forgive and will never forget.
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I'm glad my search lead me to "WWW"... Strong Woman Lead x3
I'm so glad I decided to finally watch this. I was struggling to find something to fit my current drama mood, but when I saw so many not-so-great reviews and the tags "business" and "political" I guessed that I wouldn't like this drama. Turns out this drama exceeded my expectations. It's fun, it's thought-provoking, it's easy to binge, and it's empowering. The title "Search: WWW" made me think this would be about a fake "Google" so I thought I would get easily bored but it's really as if the Ws represent 3 strong women. They are bosses but imperfect and messy and hilarious and frustrating and intelligent and it was refreshing to see women being the center of this drama in all ways and not because they were fighting over a man, or overcoming a melodramatic trauma. I thought in the first episode that this would be a corporate catfight drama but these characters are much deeper and less predictable than that, which was this drama's main appeal for me.The true lead in this story is Im Soo Jung as Bae Ta Mi (Tammy), who I loved first in "A Tale of Two Sisters" and later in "Chicago Typewriter" (2 favorites on mine). Tammy is clever and ambitious and often brutally honest and I think Soo Jung does so well being strong and vulnerable and bad@ss and a hot mess. I loved her character, even when her choices annoyed me, because to me her thinking was so relatable. Then there is Jeon Hye Jin as Song Ga Kyung, who I liked the least of the leads, but her character is complex and isn't really set up to be liked. Rounding out the leads is Lee Da Hee as Cha Hyun (Scarlett), who is definitely a favorite character for many people, myself included. Scarlett is super tough and easily violent but the ultimate empathetic caregiver and I loved all of her crazy moments. Usually, I start reviews for Romance themed dramas with the main couple but in this drama, the relationship between these ladies deserves the first mention. Not quite BFFs or Frienemies, I love that their relationships were nuanced which made them feel less superficial. Their chemistry with each other was so strong at some points that I wondered if the story would lead to a romance between at least 2 of the characters but this is more about real bonding, how relationships between people can change or evolve, and how we can be different with/to/for different people, which is again super relatable.
There is a major romance plot in this drama as well which brings us to Jang Ki Yong as
Park Morgan. He is so good at being charming and his flirt game is at 100! From the moment they met, I was hooked on their story. Yes, there is a big noticeable age gap between Morgan and Tammy, which becomes their main obstacle, but unlike people who felt annoyed by this conflict I thought it was refreshing to see a genuine issue with being together instead of a crazy materialistic parent or incurable disease or an inconvenient ex (at least not as the main issue). I really loved how he loved Tammy (he made me swoon with just how he would look at her), and I liked his character's story (which explained many of his feelings), and yes it was hard to watch so much conflict but I understood their overall dilemma way too well. I actually started this while watching "Born Again", without realizing he was in both. I like him much more in this drama (less over the top melodrama) and I look forward to his future roles.
Then we have Lee Jae Wook as Sul Ji Hwan. Like Scarlett, he is another standout role and I love how well the drama within a drama aspect was done. For being so young he really holds his own in this drama full of strong older women. I don't want to say too much about his character to avoid spoilers but I was shocked by how much I loved his character.
As for the rest of the cast, I appreciate it when there are too many wonderful characters to name, which makes a work ensemble-based drama even better. More than for the company I found myself rooting for the Barro team full of quirky characters and of course for one of my personal favorite characters in this entire drama Kwon Hae Hyo as "Brian" the boss that dreams are made of! On the flip side, my other personal favorite was Ye Soo Jung who was so deliciously ruthless that I was kinda rooting for her over the leads in some scenes. This drama doesn't have weak characters, although I do wish some had more screen time, which brings me to the story.
Even though I gave the story less than a 10 I have to say I think the writing and directing in this drama is so good. Even the product placement was masterclass level (still obvious but well played lol). My only issue is that I wish some minor characters had more screen time with less focus on things like board meetings or arguments on loop. A major question the drama presents is, "how far are you willing to go into a relationship that is likely to fail?", and I think that made the story more complex. Still, certain arguments became irritatingly repetitive, and I wish that could have been balanced out with more romantic chemistry-charged moments (like one scene in this that is one of the best drama kiss scenes ever), or more from Ji Seung Hyun's character who has the least screen time as a lead, but the pace is still good and kept me engaged the whole time. I wasn't even bored with the business or political aspect because so much of it was about the dynamic between different characters that I actually cared about and many of the dilemmas they faced brought up interesting points about how we use the web and how to determine what is "right". My favorite quote from the show: "3 things that don't exist... free things, the right answer, and secrets". Also visually, with montages, and sunsets, and lighting they really knew how to tell this story well.
Would I watch this again? For sure. I may be tempted to skip scenes, but I am also curious how knowing the whole story might change how I feel while watching. Just rewatching the intro sequence felt different once I knew all of the characters. I think many of the themes, like living in the now, may resonate differently depending on my mood too. The creators really took care in certain details, and there are quite a few scenes I could definitely watch again and again.
I also really liked this soundtrack a lot, even though I didn't necessarily love any song in particular. I give soundtracks high ratings if the music matches the show well, gets me in the mood to watch, and makes me feel nostalgic when the show is over. This soundtrack does all 3. Music is also a part of the plot in a few ways. I even stopped to really read lyrics a few times, although the "Search" song is basically catchy gibberish. The OST is so well incorporated that my favorite song on it is an instrumental "Heart Shape on Ankle" (cute title) which is clearly a bootleg SWV melody but it's used so well. Then there's one song that breaks into A' Cappella right at the perfect moment, which made the feels even deeper. Also, shout out to Brian's songs which I am disappointed are not on the soundtrack. Again, I know this is about strong women but Brian is the exception MVP.
Overall this drama had the exact mix of what I wanted (laughs, tears, butterflies) and kept me excited to binge until the end. Some traditional romance fans may be disappointed by this drama but all the great flirt scenes between the characters were enough for me. Even with some familiar but lovable drama tropes in play, this felt different and even innovative for just centering around strong women (even a minor foreign CEO part was played by a Black Woman). By the end, it was clear that this drama is a mood if you want a show how women are strong on their own (with or without a partner), and how strong isn't perfect or one obvious path. I honestly knew from the opening sequence I would love this drama and I'm glad my "what to watch" search lead me to this.
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Perfect Score because it's Perfect for me.
"Vincenzo" is my ideal drama. It is suspenseful and ridiculous. It is a revenge thriller, a comedy, a romance, filled with action and touching moments, and some of the most literally mouth-open-shocking moments I've ever seen in a drama. It's actual LOLing and cheering moments. It's plot twists I could have never guessed. It's a cast full of characters I can never forget. I didn't even hesitate to give this all 10s. From beginning to the end Vincenzo did not disappoint and even exceeded all of my expectations. I was hooked from the start.The cast is amazing, but Song Joong Ki as Vincezo is pretty iconic. He's so cool and nonchalant with his signature gold lighter that I totally bought into the Mafia consigliere plot from the very first scene... even with what is probably not the greatest Italian ever spoken (lol) I was sold. I love villains with depth and this drama is filled to the brim with them. Vincenzo, even with his mostly unbothered attitude, was such a nuanced character. Joong Ki with just a subtle facial expression would reveal so much. I loved this about him since "Sungkyunkwan Scandal". He is matched with Jeon Yeo Bin as Hong Cha Young, a lawyer of questionable morals, who I also instantly loved. She is strong and smart and completely goofy and can keep up with Vincenzo without crossing the moral line. Their chemistry is incredible, you can feel it through the way they just looked at each other, and although romance is never exactly the center of this drama the way their connection grows from beginning to the end makes it one of the things that made me love watching so much. They are a dream team - an ideal partnership. Think of any romance in this drama as growing love and respect more than cute moments, although there are a few replay-worthy classic romance scenes. Rounding out the leads is Ok Taec Yeon who is also brilliant and I was surprised I loved him so much in this. Is this a love triangle situation? In many ways yes, but definitely not in the way you probably expect. This is definitely a breakout role for him. Just the way he would call Ms. Hong "Sunbae" is an example of the subtle things that he did so well. All three of these characters have moments that are over the top ridiculous, super intense, as well as more intimate and emotional, and they each showed so much range. I was extremely impressed with all 3.
The rest of the cast is equally amazing. Again, many of these characters are super over the top but they still manage to add layers to make them feel care-worthy and relatable and not just characters to REALLY hate or comic filler. The villains are satisfyingly and even frighteningly evil. The heroes are unexpected and hilarious (think Kung Fu Hustle). I wish I could give every single character specific praise but that would lead to spoilers and the less you know when watching the better. This cast has absolutely no weak links. Not one.
That brings me to the writing and directing which I applaud for keeping me excited for every single episode. 20 episodes later, with each episode over an hour-long, I still wasn't ready for it to end. Normally I'm not that interested in business corruption plots but because it was so character-driven I couldn't help but care. There was a perfect balance of scenes that made me cry and laugh and gasp. The ending was also well done and so satisfying without making things too happy or too depressing. If you're looking for a realistic story just remember this is campy as much as it's suspenseful so some scenes are unbelievable in the most entertaining way. There are tropes but they are done so well it reminds me why those tropes work. The pace made every episode fly by. The cliffhangers at the end of each episode made the time until the next episode drag. I was anticipating how certain characters would get what they deserved and I loved how creative the revenge was. Those who get to just binge it all now are super lucky. Speaking of binging...
Would I watch this again? I already did. lol. Once I got super hooked I decided to rewatch older episodes during the week while waiting for the new ones. Yes, I was that obsessed. Yes, It was still good the second time, and some moments were even better when already knowing what was to come. I can see myself easily watching this multiple times.
I thought the soundtrack complemented this drama perfectly too. Whether pumping up the action sequences or the sweet and sentimental "Is this love" song or the music to end each cliffhanger or the monks' wedding song... I thought the music always worked so well with the story and was enjoyable but never too distracting.
My only complaint, and it's a minor one, are the ridiculous product placements. The show is so campy that it almost felt like a wink to the audience, but there really are so many obvious product spotlight moments. I say this even as I purposely made myself a cup of maxim coffee (yes the yellow packet) to watch the finale. Lol. I also had Makgeolli several times while watching. Con-grat-u-laaaaa-tions, they totally got me!
Overall, this is the most fun drama I've watched in a loooooong time. Please note that when I say fun I don't necessarily mean cute or light but rather exciting and thrilling. At its core, this is still very much a revenge thriller with lots of violence, action, and brutal deaths. If you're squeamish the violence is never too gratuitous but it isn't tame either. Also, If you like action and fight scenes there are lots. Even what looked like a nod to Bruce Lee that I appreciated.
Three strong themes that impacted me...
1. It takes a devil to take on a devil.
2. Things are rarely what they seem to be on the surface.
3. The importance of family.
The last part really got to me. I caught on pretty early that a show focused on a Mafia anti-hero would probably be about family but this theme, even in its silliest moments, really touched me. If you can handle rooting for a not-so-good guy, and the violence (which isn't too excessive but definitely the kind you should expect from a Mafia revenge story) this is a must-see drama. Without a doubt, "Vincenzo" is one of my new drama favorite dramas of all time. I think I even love corn salad after watching this! "Vicenzo" definitely lives up to the hype. I would be extra hyped if there were plans for a 2nd season, but even though I already miss it, and the ending certainly leaves room for one, that's probably overkill and I would also hate to ruin such a good thing. As it stands now this is a drama that ends on a high entertainment note and gets a standing ovation and multiple "Bravos" from me!
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If I'm honest, I think I liked the message more than the show...
"Hello, Me!" is a drama I have mixed feelings about. Although I did love the concept and self-love theme a lot, I could feel myself losing interest in this drama towards the end. In spite of dealing with serious things like grief and guilt, this drama tries to stay lighthearted and "feel good" which I think stopped it from becoming as deep as it could've been. I think playing it too safe and relying on tropes is what made me less excited about what was going to happen, but there was still a lot that I did like, and I'm glad I eventually watched it until the end.I'll start with Ban Ha Ni, played by Choi Kang Hee. I think she is a great actress, and this character reminded me a bit of her role in "Heart to Heart", which I really liked, but one petty thing was driving me crazy. Sorry, but I just couldn't believe she was 37. Since so much about this drama is about her age, as opposed to Lee Re who is Ban Ha Ni at 17, I just kept wishing they bumped the time difference up to 25 years, which would have been way more realistic. Still, I did like the idea of the major contrast between her past self and current self and thought they were a great match. Lee Re is super cute and obnoxious but likable, which is the perfect contrast to Kang Hee's passive and worn-down version of Ha Ni. I won't go into the details of how and why their paths cross, but the idea of not being a disappointment to your past self was an inspiring theme, and what kept me initially engaged. Many of Ban Ha Ni's moments, at both ages, are silly and over the top which stops the story from ever getting too heavy, but I think that also backfired and made the story feel too repetitive and cliché at times. Convenient connections and "fated" situations became this drama's crutch. I appreciate that this drama wasn't too dark, or depressing, but the over the top comedy was sometimes too much.
Speaking of balance, this drama also stars Kim Young Kwang as Han Yoo Hyun, who was my favorite character even if his storyline was all over the place. He also played a similar role in Pinocchio (another favorite drama of mine) as a spoiled rich heir who is still sweet and considerate. In this drama he thankfully isn't the second lead. He's also cute and cheesy in "The Secret Life of My Secretary", so this is definitely his lane, but any romance in "Hello, Me!" is definitely just implied and that was very disappointing. The chemistry between him and Kang Hee is cute but super platonic. They have cute teamwork moments, and the way he supports Ha Ni is like a loyal puppy more than a love interest. I guess I'm glad they didn't force the romance idea too much, but I wish they made them clearly just friends instead. Any small attempts at romance between the two just seemed too awkward, and forced. He did make me smile whenever he was on screen, which was another thing that kept me watching even when I stopped caring. He has such a great smile! More than with Ha Ni I loved his chemistry and banter with his dad, played by Yoon Joo Sang. Some of my favorite scenes in this drama were random moments between the two of them more than any moment between the leads. If romance is your reason for watching this, definitely lower those expectations.
The rest of the cast was also good but because so much of the story lacked depth so did many of their performances. Ha Ni's classmates and family are all great. Eum Moon Suk as Anthony is considered a lead, maybe even an intended 2nd lead, but as much as his story works as a direct counter narrative to Ha Ni's story, I just never cared as much about him and what happened to him. I also didn't really care about the drama in Yoo Hyun's family, beyond his back and forth with his dad, the fighting for company control trope felt really out of place in this drama. Then there is one Shaman character who feels completely unnecessary. A character that weird and random should have had much better scenes. In contrast, I adored the lunch lady duo. In fact I liked them way more than many of the more prominent characters.
Would I watch this again? I don't think so. I didn't even feel motivated to finish this drama but I still wanted to know what would happen to Ha Ni. I do feel like that part of the story ended well, and I was satisfied with that, but the ways that so many other parts of the drama were resolved were extra corny and predictable. I feel like maybe to counter the sad parts they made sure the ending was extra positive, which felt a little like overkill. I only learned after watching that this was a novel so I'm curious which parts were added to fill in the 16 episodes, because that's what a lot of it felt like.
Overall this drama is Ok. I think I liked the message and idea of the show more than watching all of the episodes. Some parts made me laugh, and some parts made me really cry, and I loved the theme of making peace with who you are no matter what. I wouldn't call this a must see drama by any means, but there are enough good things about it to make me recommend this to anyone looking for something that's not too deep or completely frivolous. If you're a scene skipper, this is the kind of drama that has many skippable scenes. Also, if you are on any kind of diet beware! Snacks and snack love are a major factor in this drama, which felt a little overdone, but I can appreciate the sentiment as a snack lover. This drama itself is kinda like a snack more than a meal. It may not be filling but if you're in the mood for comedy sprinkled with nostalgia and self reflection and with just a slight (very slight) hint of romance it might just hit the spot.
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This is definitely not a Rom-Com.
I'll start this by saying that Jeon Yeo Bin is definitely the reason I decided to watch this movie. I was going through withdrawals waiting for the next episode of "Vincenzo" to come out when Netflix's suggestion that I may like this finally got to me. Extremely violent crime/action films aren't usually my go-to genre but the trailer was intriguing. I was also excited to see Yeo Bin in a different role and this confirmed her status as a new favorite of mine for sure. She and the rest of the cast are amazing in this, they made this wild ride of a story super compelling and more than extreme stylized violence, and revenge clichés.The most important point that needs to be made upfront, without spoilers, is that this is in no way a romcom or a romantic movie... at all. I say this only because the title and promotional photos seem to give off that impression. I think the purpose is to give the impression of dark things under the surface in a beautiful relaxing setting but this story is pretty brutal from beginning to end. Trigger Warning... literally... because I know Korea isn't known for epic gunfights but this has a lot, A WHOLE LOT, of gun violence in it. The violence is also not subtle, so be aware of this if you are squeamish at the sight of blood.
As a story, I think this is extremely well done. It centers around Uhm Tae Goo as Park Tae Goo (guess he was made for the role lol), a high-level gangster who gets caught in between a power grab with an opposing boss wanting him to change sides. As expected with a gang-themed story there is revenge, betrayal, and ruthless bad guys. What Tae Goo does so well is he brings such humanity and hurt to the character that I was immediately sucked into his struggle. Then he forms an odd connection with Jeon Yeo Bin as Jae Yun, and although I definitely did say this is not a romance, there is still a kind of chemistry between them that works so well. Jae Yun is such a great character, and I was shocked at how different and equally impressive Yeo Bin was as a completely different female lead. Once Jae Yun is introduced she shares the lead status and becomes just as intriguing as the main male lead, not just the girl sidekick (which I appreciate). In fact, she steals many scenes and stands strong among a predominantly male cast without having to play up being sexy, or super fragile.
The rest of the cast is filled with familiar faces in ways I haven't really seen before. Like Cha Seung Won, who although his charm is pretty much the same as it always is, there is an extra sinister edge to Director Ma. I liked the idea that none of the gangsters seemed like caricatures to me. Even characters with no real redeeming qualities had some depth. I also liked that there really are no true good guys in this story which gives this film license to reach such a disturbing climax... and yes, I did found the end disturbing, but I felt like it also ended perfectly.
Would I watch this again? Definitely. More than once. I already did. For me, the violent scenes can be hard to watch, but the dynamics between the characters and the performances make my rewatch score high. The story isn't very complicated either, or plot twist-ridden, but the pace of the story is so great, and so much of the suspense in this is waiting for the inevitable to finally happen. About halfway into the movie both leads make choices that seal their fate and the suspense is built on that. It's hard to speak about specific scenes without spoilers, but watching certain scenes again after knowing how the story ends, made me like this film even more.
Overall, the amount of violence may understandably keep some viewers away, but if you're open to a compelling story and can appreciate a movie that's dark without breaks for comedy (beyond a few random jokes) or romance, there is a lot to like about this movie. There are also a lot of great action sequences for those afraid that this movie is slow paced and moody all the way through. The movie is also beautifully shot in spite of the ugliness it portrays. I do think Jeon Yeo Bin is a true star in this role, and I can't wait for whatever she is in next, including the next episode of Vincenzo. This movie was a not so pleasant pleasant surprise. Thanks Netflix, you were actually right. :)
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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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