Forgettable

This movie, for me, was very forgettable. Seriously, I watched it two days ago and I can hardly remember it.

Positives:
Beautiful scenery
No angst

Otherwise:
Not much going on. A lot of longing looks, but too much space with no dialogue. As is the case with so many Japanese dramas, the girl likes the boy immediately, for no apparent reason other than he's breathing. There isn't much character development for us to feel like we know anyone. There was zero chemistry between the lead characters. For me, this movie kind of acted like a lobotomy, to completely empty my brain before watching something else. I didn't hate it, but I didn't like it, but I didn't care about it at all.

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Could have been so much better!

I liked the concept and I appreciated that they didn't have the hidden identity between the main couple last for too long. The couple was cute together.

However, her not wanting to tell anyone else her true identity throughout the whole show got old fast. She had the "I'm not good enough for you" vibe going on (she actually verbalized it a couple of times) and that made me feel, through her inferiority complex, that she didn't love him like she should/claimed.

I'll admit up front that I don't like bullying, but this show went so far in the other direction it was ridiculous. Ai was good to everyone, and wanted to help everyone out, but unfortunately, her boyfriend seemed to be nowhere on the list of those she wanted to help. His needs always took a backseat to everyone else.

I felt that the end was unsatisfying.

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This is time that I won't get back.

There was so much wrong with this show. The acting was stiff, awkward and awful; though, that might have a lot to do with the script being so bad. The "special effects" of the moving camera were just cheesy, something from the 1950's. The show was like something a high schooler wrote for a school project and filmed in his garage. I love shows about cooking/baking, so I had high hopes for this and was sorely disappointed. The storyline was absolutely repetitive and ridiculous - meet, fall in love, forget, repeat. Lee Se Young's blond hair was very distracting, it was hard to focus on much of anything else. I think certain parts were supposed to be funny, they weren't. No chemistry between characters. WOW! I can't get over how bad this one was!

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A mixed bag, but worth watching

I have a dream, that someday I'll be able to watch a Korean drama that sticks with one genre and commits to it, that said drama will do said drama with excellence. I've been feeling, lately, that every drama throws a little bit of everything into the mix. This show is a drama, romance, comedy, SOL, action, mystery - you name it, it's in there.

I thought the pacing of this show was very good at the outset, though I could have done without the gangster element. I was loving the stories of the hospice workers, as well as the patients. I would have rated this so much higher if they had just planted the storyline there. It was very touching to see how the workers deal with death, and how the families and the patients themselves cope. I found myself very invested, then BAM! Cray-cray ex-girlfriend and the mystery patient in the hospice. These two things really ruined the show for me. These storylines dramatically altered the direction of the show and pulled focus from the important storylines. I was tempted to drop the show at that time (especially since it seemed to go on forever!), but I waited expectantly, hoping it would get back on track. Ultimately it did, but for me it had gone too far to redeem itself.

The acting was exemplary. Ji Chang Wook: the past few things he's been in have been disappointing to me, because of the way his characters were written. I loved him in this. He's got toughness, but an innocence that is charming. I loved him talking under his breath all the time, not quite understanding everything that was going on. He got pulled into the lives of the people in the hospice, almost against his own volition. He seemed surprised at the things that he was doing and feeling. I could really sense his character's growing and developing his own un-biological family. Chang Wook also has an intensity about him: that soulful stare. If for no other reason, I'm glad I watched this show for his acting.
Sung Dong Il: I love him! He's one of those actors that is always lovely to watch. His character in this drama was wonderful.
Park Jin Joo: I didn't even realize early on that this was the actress I was watching. The makeup department did an excellent job. Her character was special, and I loved the process of her fulfilling her last wish.

And, as far as acting AND storyline is concerned: Kil Hae Yeon and Yoo Soon Wong as husband-and-wife hospice workers, was kind of sad, but so touching. The journey of discovery for these characters was surprising, yet spoke to the power of love, as well as the fact that everyone around them became family.

I can still recommend this drama pretty highly, but I just wish the editors had done a better job, edited out the unnecessary storylines, and given us more hospice stories.

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Short and sweet, with a touch of yearning

Two things drew me to this drama: 1) It was a short four episodes. I was feeling the need for a break from the bloated, drawn-out dramas. 2) Park Hyung Sik.

Park Hyung Sik as Han Sun Woo was excellent. He's got that yearning for love thing on lock (he did this really well in Strong Woman Do Bong Soon). He didn't make it obvious immediately to us as the audience, so you could somewhat understand the FL not seeing it. The brevity of the story kept me from feeling that the FL was an idiot not to see his love. We also didn't have to sit through multiple extra storylines that are used as filler.

Though the plot line they developed for them to be living in the same space didn't work for me (how in the world was he, a photographer, supposed to help her write lyrics?), I LOVED his addition to her lyrics at the end, but I just wish the ending hadn't been so abrupt. We didn't get to enjoy them as a couple at all, really.

I liked her mother and her tarot cards. That she could see what was going on, and her reaction to it, was so cute, and just added to the cluelessness of the FL.

This show wasn't anything groundbreaking, but it was good for an evening's easy entertainment.

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The voice!

I'll be the first to say that this wasn't much of a romance. A slow burn that never ignites, perhaps? That being said, I still enjoyed it. The premise was very original and if for no other reason, it's worth watching just to hear Lee Soo Hyuk speak in his deep, mesmerizing voice.

Where he was getting ready to design clothing and feeling the fabrics that were on the mannequin, there was something very sensual about this.

The show was multiple stories, each standing on its own merit. My only complaint is that a few of the women looked an awful lot alike.

It's a short drama, I watched it on YouTube. I would highly suggest watching it, if only for Lee Soo Hyuk. It was good to see him in a leading role.

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What a sweet show!

This is a darling show if you are looking for no angst, cuteness overload, sweet and quirky characters. I'll say right now, to get it over with, that I did end up scoring down slightly due to the introduction of the ex-girlfriend. I'll tell you why - I absolutely hate how writers always bring in the woman that broke the guy's heart and then comes back years later, sees that he's interested in someone else, but still does everything she can to get him back. I was especially irritated in this show, because it was going on so well, just being driven by the characters in the small town. The small-town feel, everyone knows everyone else and is all up in everyone else's business. Some of the characters seem a hamburger short of a Happy Meal, which adds to the charm. The pace is purposely slow, letting you get involved in their lives. Here, too, is where the writing let me down. The ML going on about how much he had loved the ex-girlfriend and she broke his heart and he never thought he'd love again. Just my opinion, but to me that truly decreases the romance value, like the way he felt about the FL wasn't that special. Again, just my opinion.

I could expound for days on how cute the ML and FL were together. Any scenes they were in were bright and lovely. And once they finally admitted they liked each other, well, let me just say that my cheeks were hurting from smiling so much. I would potentially watch this show again just to see the progression of their relationship. One bad kiss, but they definitely improved on that. The ending was a tad rushed, as tends to be the norm in Asian dramas.

The kid "couple" was a treat - it was kind of like watching a parallel relationship alongside the leads. They didn't see the similarities, but we, as the audience, got to see and enjoy that.

The music was beautiful and added to the almost ethereal mood of the town and its people. This was truly a wonderful show.

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Upon re-rewatch, score went up from 3 to 7.5

I watched this show a couple of years ago and HATED it, mostly for the character of Cheon Song Yi. Since I'm admittedly somewhat fascinated by Kim Soo Hyun, I decided to give this another try. I enjoyed it so much more! There were some things that still prevented me from rating it higher, but I was able to find more positives than negatives.

STORY/CHARACTERS: Original storyline. You've got aliens, stopping time, teleportation - what's not to like? My issues were with some of the characters. I still hated Cheon Song Yi. Kim Soo Hyun did an excellent job of making me hate the character. She was self-centered, self-absorbed, bratty, whiny, she yelled a lot, she was demanding, plus she was portrayed as being pretty stupid - she can't remember the door code to get into her house?! I just didn't like this character at all! And she never got any better for me. I didn't care for Lee Hui Kyung - This character was like a puppy following her around, calling her his girlfriend when they weren't involved at all - it was nice to see Park Hae Jin in a role where he actually shows some facial expressions. Shin Sung Rok as Lee Jae Kyung - I was supposed to hate him, I know. I just think that the story would have been better served if they had used an actor that didn't look so much like a villain from the very beginning. It would have brought some depth to the show to discover his evil as you go along, not know immediately that he's the bad guy.

ACTING: I thought the acting was good by all. Kim Soo Hyun was perfect for this role, as he doesn't tend to show any emotion.
in any role he plays. At the end of episode 19 when he looks into the camera with a slight smile - be still my heart! He is a beautiful crier, and I was impressed by his heaving crying, not just drops running down his cheeks. I originally watched this when I was new to K-dramas. I think another reason I enjoyed it more this time, it was like old home week! Most of the actors I've seen in multiple other dramas.

MUSIC: I liked the music, especially Kim Soo Hyun singing In Front of Your House.

REWATCH: I doubt that I'll re-watch it a third time.

OVERALL: I thought this drama was very romantic. Really good kisses, which are always nice for a change of pace. I liked the development of Cheon Song Yi's family dynamics. Now I think I understand why this is at the top of so many people's lists.

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High on living your dreams, low on romance

Story: The story was cute. There were underlying stories that were handled very well also. As BTS ARMY, I really appreciated the story about liking an idol - the public's perception that the idol belongs to them, and that they shouldn't have their own private life. We tend to not think about that. There was also the story about not being able to express your true feelings for someone because society frowns on it - it was handled with sensitivity, and I loved the "resolution" of him being honest and changing the government. I didn't care for the main leads dating others, knowing that they liked someone else - that makes it feel too much like "love the one you're with" and diminishes their feelings for each other, in my opinion. I would have liked to have seen them have more time together, and the ending felt rushed, per the usual MO of Asian shows. The workers at the company were fun to watch and I liked how they have made themselves into a family of sorts, caring for and watching out for one another.

Acting: The acting was good and not overacted as we sometimes see in Japanese dramas. They have also toned down the exaggerated movements and facial expressions, so I was able to feel that I was watching real people, not just caricatures.

The piano music throughout was good and kind of blended into the background for the most part.

I won't rewatch this for two reasons: 1) Not enough romance. 2) My "to watch" list is so long that I'll probably never get to all of them.

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Short, sweet, strange

This drama was original, yet strange. I liked the aspect of it being different, but I DIDN'T like the scenes with the ML barking. That was just too over the top. It was cute, low angst, short, yet somewhat rushed. I would have liked to have seen more interaction between the leads as a couple, because those scenes were precious (however, the ending was just all sorts of cute).

What stood out to me in this show was that the ML was different. Not the fact that he had husky genes, but that, even though he was a powerful CEO, he wasn't completely cold and autocratic. He appreciated the help that the FL provided and took care to thank her for her help. His smiles alone are worth watching this show.

The FL was so cute! I've seen her in other works and can't get over her tininess. I liked the way she played the character, she wasn't pouty or bemoaning her fate, and she also wasn't a doormat to the ML. Her facial expressions really exemplified her irritation with him at times, which made me laugh.

Their romance was rushed. They weren't in love, then they were. The scenes with them together when they were smiling and laughing had me smiling and laughing as well. Though the relationship was rushed, I could understand why they liked each other, mostly because of their mutual respect. I would have liked less time spent on the evil uncle and more time spent on them.

There were certainly things I would have changed in the storyline, but I'm glad I watched it. I probably won't re-watch it, however.

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Easy watch

This movie expands on the short show of the same name. I saw that Yokohama Ryusei was in this, so decided to give it a try. It was cute, for what it was. It was sort of like watching a live action cartoon, with over-the-top sound effects, exaggerated movements and facial expressions. Because it was so cartoonish, I wasn't able to feel anything for the characters.

It had your typical, excessively socially awkward teens that are seen in a lot of the Japanese shows. Sometimes, it's like watching people that have been raised with wolves coming into contact with humans for the first time in their lives. Fearful, skittish, unable to maintain a conversation. This movie did have the addition of a cousin to supposedly create some tension between the couple. My only thoughts of him were, "Did they use an egg beater to arrange his hair?!"

This show used the trope of misunderstanding/lack of communication, which is always frustrating to me. The movie as a whole was okay, I suppose but it never drew me in. I think I was probably slightly generous with my rating, only because the movie was completely innocuous and didn't irritate me.

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Very well done

Lee Kwang Soo is one funny guy! He's funny in this, but he's also a good actor that can wring other emotions from you. I thought this drama's storyline was very original and it managed to walk the fine line between drama and comedy. It was filled with twists and turns that kept me interested throughout.

I love a show that demonstrates the strength of family and friends. This did that well. All the quirky supermarket employees really understood each other and looked out for one another. And just the best supportive mom, ever!

A lot of this drama was difficult for me to watch, especially concerning the little girl (who did a wonderful job, by the way), but I'm glad I took the time, though it's not my usual genre.

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A journey of self

One thing I've noticed about a lot of Japanese shows, they are a "slice-of-life". Not a lot happens, but we are privy to the main character's daily thoughts and desires. Such is the case with this movie. You have a high schooler, with all the angst, hormones, and everything else that goes along with the age. A secret crush, changing family dynamics, and cyber-bullying add to her everyday worries. Remembering back to my teen years, everything was amplified - the highs were higher, and the lows were lower. I could feel the loneliness, as well as the dissatisfaction in her current life. Along comes a mystical, magical granny to change things. It's often someone completely out of our sphere that we connect with, relate to, that can help us see things more clearly. This person gives her the bravery to come out of herself, and also the opportunity to resolve past hurts. A special person in your life can change you and your perspective forever.

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The power of friendship

This show speaks to the stresses that are put on them by their parents, their teachers, each other, and themselves. There was a lot of emotional/psychological bullying in this one, which was hard for me to understand, because I wouldn't have put up with it. I was sorry there weren't consequences for the bullies.

There is a bit of a romance here, but mostly this is about friendship, and it tells the story well. It's about believing in your friends when they don't even believe in themselves. About how you can trash talk your friends, but nobody else had better try it. At the beginning, I was worried, because the acting seemed pretty stiff, but that eventually worked its way out.

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Too many episodes for the story

This story was done very effectively in the movie version. Sadly, I felt that this show had too many episodes. There were many, many times that I fast forwarded through scenes.

Acting: I really enjoyed all the actors, for the most part. Seo Hyun Jin, as usual, is very good. She's tremendously self-centered and over-the-top at the beginning, but eventually settles into her role. She has a sweet playfulness about her that I really enjoy. I have to say, I don't particularly care for Lee Min Ki as an actor in general. He's too much like an automaton. There is one scene where she smiles at him and he's completely gobsmacked, but in general, the fact that he remains expressionless is a problem for me. I didn't care for the second couple, she was completely unlikeable throughout. I liked both her agent and his secretary.

This show had the problem that it didn't really know what it wanted to be. Is it a comedy? A melodrama? Her disorder seemed to, for the most part, be played for laughs, but when it switched to seriousness I wasn't buying into it. His disorder is SO overused in K-dramas! I was loving the fact that he could recognize her in any body she was in, then they went and tipped that on its head. That bothered me as well.

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