nfabjoy
Somewhere in Africa
It has an emotional effect hard to describe. Just sublime.
This film is a lot of things ...Is it a black comedy ? Yes
A social commentary? Yes
Art? Most definitely..
I can describe Parasite as an appropiatian of art and poetry with Marxism that screams like a Basquiat painting.
Its an uncomfortable film that depicts social and class divide. Its full of metaphors and cultural anecdotes all juxtaposed with morally ambiguous characters that make for an exuberant watch. I really liked how exuberant the whole mood of the movie was even though the viewer is made acutely aware of the darkness looming. Its also not those artsty fartsy silent films where characters talk after 20 mins which was much appreciated.
For the most part -Human beings are truly portrayed as awful and just not worth celebrating. The angle that poverty does not bring virtue and nobilty was generously explored .The characters are grotesque and the dystopian world Bong Joon Ho spins actually makes a lot of sense as well as the dramatic consequence of his characters and the plot.
Its such a flooring watch and deserves all the praise and udulation!
"RESPECT'' if you know , you know...
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A deceptively deep but ultimately shallow and bewildering drama on "healing"
I'm going to go into this review as a mental health advocate and avid drama watcher and I must say , that on both fronts , I am very bewildered .There is a telenovela called La Mujer Perfecta "The Perfect Woman" from Venezuela. It is a slice of life telenovela that showcases Venezuelan beauty standards in a society that prizes beauty over brains and the mass objectification of the female body . Whilst exploring that; it touches on a girl who is nonconformist ,has amazing brains , eccentric beauty plus has Asperger's Syndrome . Asperger's is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction and nonverbal communication, along with restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviour and interests. All of which make her severely underappreciated and misunderstood in the society she finds herself in.However -the depiction of mental health in that telenovela showed that your perceived weakness in society can actually be beautiful and strong.
It’s Okay To Not Be Okay didn’t make its protagonists gorgeous but made them weak and lacking with an evolved sense of self centeredness which is far from the mental health truth .It was a plot that was rather disingenuous as it had supreme potential to break much needed ground . It could have really knocked it out the park exploring mental illnesses and their intricate effects in daily life.
The use of psychopathy was lazy and came across as a crude entertainment device. This is seen in the terrible plot twist.Also , It’s okay not to be okay could’ve been a poignant slice of life drama with special emphasis on people triumphing over what society views as a weakness but instead it shallowly explored the effects of alcoholism , domestic abuse and trauma. This is due to the world building and character portraits. The world of IOTNBO was not fully lived in but was rather heavily accessorised and very much stylised focusing more on aesthetic than on substance. So in the end - the beautiful and human character portraits did not have a chance to take center stage.Instead , we had numerous employees stand back and watch while people like the Moon brother's . female protagonist et al had their meltdowns which would NEVER happen , like , ANYWHERE. And those are just a few of the many examples. No careful thought was put in this which was very off putting but people are giving it a pass because it is "pretty" and "helaing". SMH.
I do however appreciate it for what it was in the end. That's why I did not drop it even though , perhaps , I should have .Its a story that does not really focus on plot but opts to tell it’s story via the unravelling of complex character portraits in the form of the three main leads.Thats cool.The acting was also very engaging as well and the actors wove in great continiuty in their skills . Kim Soo Hyun was ridiculously tragic , Seo Yeo Ji was transfixing and Oh Jung Se needs AWARDS ASAP. Drama performance of the year ! The supporting cast was meh for the most part and annoying in some parts but I did really love ALL the patients in Ok Psychiatry Hospital . Very lovely stories indeed.
The music was not impressive and did a lack luster job on atmosphere modulation.
OVERALL - I would not rewatch it or even watch MVs on YouTube. I am glad I did watch and it was mildly entertaining and gorgeous in visuals . On substance fronts - its severely lacking. It was like going to a restaurant and having boiled ribs with no garnish. Ribs have so much potential to be tasty and yum so why leave them boiled?No thank you .
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Hyper character driven , great pathos but not tight enough
This drama right here is packed with a really enduring story line that is hyper character driven. In fact - its the character driven nature of the show that makes its fantastic premise of a walkie talkie in different timelines feel like an entirely normal thing.Although- I have one heads up for viewers . You cannot be a wuss (because I was) when watching this drama. The crimes are explicit , brutal and mostly against women . Plus , skeletons get a lot of camera time. Its gritty , brutal with vivid depiction that CSI has nothing on.
As for the story- gather around for some thrilling awesomeness. This has one of the best first episodes I have ever seen and was the best incentive to watch Signal.The first few episodes notified me of a great mystery coupled with impactful acting. The more I got into the story - I was very impressed that this show still managed to be emotionally resonant especially with all the crime happening in the background.Its also very well focused and the best example of flash backs and I am not a particular fan of flashbacks . I usually find flash backs wearisome but they were greatly employed in Signal.
The story was also pretty big on motifs which was really good in weaving in continuity and emotional connection with the viewer .'Omurice' being the particularly tear inducing one but there were so many one could find pathos in . I really like that about Signal.
Thematic cohesion was also intrinsically inserted . This is especially gauged with the main character Park Hae Young and his origin story. There’s also something so enduring about the character development . The way the stories all intertwine was expert script writing.
Acting -Jo Jin Woong blew this out the water . What a talented guy!His portrayal of practical but noble Lee Jae Han was absolutley brilliant that his character has become one of my fave fictional characters in K Drama land . Lee Je Hoon was such a great watch too . His pained depiction of Park Hae Young was really tragic and enduring . The supporting cast was really good too and special mention to Jang Hae Kyung who played the guy who got wrapped in circumstances . His portrayal was quite sympathetic.
However - Signal is not a perfect show. Perhaps the best of its genre but its not the best show. Why ? Over indulgent editing brought down this show. It could have been more succinct and tighter because this show started dragging around the halfway point. I have a problem with thrillers that lose their thrill down the road and Signal did that . I also found Kim Hye Soo who plays Detective Cha particularly banal to watch. Kim Hye Soo was definitely the "something is not right" aspect of the show. Always wide eyed in the thick of action did not inspire confidence at all.
OVERALL- I was quite impressed by the emotional depth of the show as it truly is its crowning aspect .
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This drama insulted the viewer’s intelligence
Let me start of positively :Queen of Tears had all the makings of a good K-Drama with its strong start and promising setup. It was refreshing to see the storyline of a married couple going through problems with the balance of introspection and retrospection in play . It looked like it would be a clever plot device . I was sold.
It’s not hard to see how the show initially pulled me in with its intriguing premise, and complex characters, creating a world that felt layered and engaging. But somewhere along the way, the plot started unraveling, and what was once clever quickly became frustrating.
As the story progressed, Queen of Tears began introducing plot twists and decisions that bordered on absurd, leaving viewers scratching their heads. Plot holes became glaring, and storylines that were initially compelling took bizarre turns, feeling more like quick fixes than well-thought-out developments. This shift gave the impression that the writers were either running out of steam or throwing logic out the window for the sake of drama, which ultimately compromised the show’s believability.
This issue was even more disappointing because there were hints of larger themes that could have deepened the story, but these were overshadowed by nonsensical turns that ultimately insulted the viewers’ intelligence. The once-promising plot turned into an exercise in patience, where you’re left hoping it’ll redeem itself but realizing it’s probably too late.
I really resent this , hence my low score .
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A novel space thriller with poor character portraits
I applaud Silent Sea for its story , its novelty and its production . I like productions that take a chance and this drama certainly took a chance.The set premise is dramatically dystopian and was vividly portrayed . The water crisis was captured so vividly that I found myself thanking the powers that be that I have clean water to shower in and that water is indeed precious. When a drama can hone in on a simple but precious concept such as water and impress upon you all its complexities , beauty and ramifications then full points on story capture !
The thriller element and intrigue was plausibly engrossing to keep a captivated viewer tuning however as I watched this show , I came to the overwhelming feeling that though this drama is novel its not special . Usually , I can think of a drama when I am not watching it , musing on what a character is going to do or making up conspiracy theories in my head . However , with Silent Sea , I just dutifully tuned and amicably forgot about it throughout my day.
I believe this is due to the character portraits of the story . The characters were not full bodied nor fleshed out . They were presented rather shallowly that it was hard to get fully behind any of them. It kinda sucked the fun out of it and the drama lost its special factor.
The cast was okay . I can't critique too much as they did not have enough fleshing out for the actors to truly shine. However, I found Bae Doona extremely one dimensional and very annoying with her stares and frequent consternation looks. The director really directed her badly as I know she is quite a capable actress.
As for the music - quite sublime !
Overall- I would highly suggest this drama if you are a fan of sci fi and the like . You will have the patience to watch and be fascinated by this drama. If you have other compelling reasons to watch - then also go for it , your time will not be wasted. But I can tell you that this show is no special thing . Novel ? Yes . Special ? No .
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All flash but no heart however technically superb
Squid Game is a typical dystopian death game depiction with all the tropes that illustrate how humans are capable of the most egregious stuff when pushed to desperate levels . La , la . la.Did Squid Game do something new , innovative and different in this drama? Not really . It was all rather typical and pretty predictable with an unsatisfying ending. However - it was TECHNICALLY sound.
The technicalities explored in bringing the story of Squid Game to our screens was masterful , adept and scintillating . The music , the wardrobe , the set and the visuals were all sublime . I found myself pausing to stare at the set design and all the intricacies of the visuals . The technicality shows through in the script too . The way the games were constructed especially the glass bridge was written masterfully . One of the best episodes of TV I have ever beheld is in ep 8 of Squid Game. Wonderful.
Now , I had a slight problem with Squid Game . I had a problem with its focus balancing . Focus balancing is when they are plots and subplots and the editors , directors et al balance that .i.e - the main plot has the adequate focus that a main plot should have and a sub plot is noticeably sub to a main plot. Maybe I am obtuse - but I felt as if there were plots that were too consummate to be a parallel or sub plot . Then the main plot just had flash , flash , flash of indulgent poverty and misfortune without much heart . So my emotional desires were being fulfilled elsewhere so in the end - I do not feel sated after watching Squid Game. I have an unbalanced view of it all.
This brings forward my next point with the cast . All did well , but again , the sub/parrallel plot guys showed up the guys in the main plot . The voice acting and tension that the actors showed playing the Pink Soldiers was sublime and top notch whereas the main cast was meh. I was loving the Pink Soldiers and the Front Man more than the main cast . However , I particularly loved Han Mi Yeo played by Kim Joo Ryung . So fantastically crass and vulgar. Everyone else was fine.
The music was fantastic atmosphere control too so top marks for that .
OVERALL- I am surprised that this is the drama that decided to have a chokehold on the global community but I do see its hype . It is a technical masterpiece. And all my points go to that .
Note:It is very gory , gruesome and unsettling egregious so know that when getting into watching this.
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If the premise is not to your liking - you may drop but if you like the premise, its a must watch!
W took me by total surprise ! I did not expect to thoroughly enjoy it but I really did.These are the 5 things I enjoyed about watching W .
1. Great world building that I found mostly coherent . The writer generously let the viewer know the rules of the W universe which is very appreciated when watching such a drama with a possibly complex story line.
2.Direction and writing were very much in sync and the synergy was quite elegant. The trust currency was strong and as a viewer , I was able to suspend my belief and notions and come to trust the writer with every twist and turn with excitement and not fear .
3. It presented itself as a drama where visuals truly matter and everyone and everything had the appearance of being unreal so as to fit its comic book premise .I really liked how dedicated this drama was in achieving this ethos that even the casting represented facially symmetrical actors and presented them as if they were drawn themselves! The schism between writer of the webtoon and webtoon characters could not allow for every character to be unapologetically real and I appreciated the restraint of the writing to not make the male lead and his webtoon characters all human and prone to flaws because of abcd as humans naturally do. This is also in the villain too.
4. A drama is truly good if it can provide a wider commentary and this drama definitely did .I loved the wider commentary on the concept of reality and being self aware.Though it was not poignantly done - it was pretty cool watching the desire for self awareness in the characters. I also liked how there was a character for the viewer to find themselves in . The female protagonist represented the viewer and one figures out plot along with her which again makes for a cohesive watch. Moreover -its tackle of fate and destiny was original and not wearisome and typical.
5. The music was really good too! It brought major pathos and each song or instrumental gently lulled the viewer into romantic , dramatic or melo territory which was atmosphere control I truly appreciated.
I do think the acting left a lot to be desired but I forgive it for that because this drama presented itself as a visual oriented drama and every bit of the cast represented that . There were also some plot holes and whats up with female heroines being all cool and intellectual then ending up fluffy and weepy in the end?I am looking at you Oh Yeon Joo but I was able to let that be as it may.
The romance was also a bit meh but in the end I was smiling like a sap everytime they had their 'moments' .
OVERALL- The story is definitely one of the most original ones I've ever seen in a drama.It never was predictable and I think that counts for something THOUGH there were some plot holes hence my 8/10.
I definitely see why its highly rated . I have watched some overrated dramas that leave me scratching my head as to why are they so hyped but I really understand W's hype. Its ground breaking territory though not poignantly done but it was still done and kudos for that. I rolled with it’s flow and I didn’t find it confusing. The world building was pretty decent and one understood the actions because the characters understood too .
I appreciate how W seamlessly became apart of my life . I wasn’t binging per se but I was pleasantly putting it on like how one would with a familiar soap opera they have been watching most of their lives .
I find that highly commendable .
A hearty well done for W and recommended watch for you too!
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An intense experience. A masterclass.
Money Flower is really one of those beautiful pieces of television that come your way like Hayley’s comet .It’s beautifully shot and excellently written . It made me want to google filmography and it’s relevant terms and technicalities because what I was seeing was so impressive to me . Money Flower , for me , is up there in terms of supreme craftsmanship. I’m sure those who do film studies and such can appreciate this phenomenon in Money Flower. I came to appreciate jump shots , pan shots and eye matching scenes . In fact , the eye matching scenes were the most powerful scenes and made the drama really edgy , unique and gripping .The jump shots magnificently created suspense and the continuity cuts were so logical yet artful for a drama. Thanks Money Flowing for piquing my interest in film techniques.
The story was the usual revenge plot of the impostor wronged by the people they were deceiving . It was familiar to see yet I found myself mid episode squealing in excitement at how the plot unfolded and yelling at my screen “I love this !” Throughout the somewhat lengthy 24 episodes, I was truly stunned by the revelations and plot unfolding of this show . Money Flower is a social tragedy and the depictions of human greed and avarice are thought provoking. If you like dramas that are heavy on the unfair circumastances in society imposed by the ruling class then this one is for you .
The acting was faithful to the script and the cast in all their capacities brilliantly conveyed the subtleties , nuance and anger their characters had internalised . Everyone pulled their weight and there was no weak actor at all. They were artful surgeons to the script , fulfilling their brief with finesse and attention . I throughly enjoyed Jang Seung Jo portrayal of the tragic Jang Bu Cheon. His eyes were so expressive . I look forward to seeing more of him .Then of course ,we have Jang Hyuk playing the intense yet empathic Kang Pil Ju. Just wow. The chairman was the perfect villain and. Malran was the perfect antagonist that was a victim of their circumstances.
The music was amazing. It was mostly instrumental but they were very apt in capturing the moments either heartwarmingly , emotionally or mostly heartbreakingly. My favorite piece was an “Inexcusable Road.”
OVERALL - Brilliznt watch . A true master class in story telling .
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Great but lacked consistency and expansion.
Second seasons should offer more expansion on premise , characters and events . This really did not.While this second season had a more sober tone, expansion of characters was severely lacking . I did appreciate the expansion on the premise of how the Zombies came about and all the surrounding politics and lust for power but it still did not sate the desire for proliferation of what Kingdom is all about!
My other gripe is how the ending failed to resonate . Is it because not enough time was spent building the main protagonists characters ? Because the decisions made was lacking in consistency and appeared to have poor logic sequencing that went against the dynamics of the show previously set in season 1 and the first half of season 2.
I was not really impressed with this season but I do maintain that I am deeply invested in this story line and will continue to watch all its releases.It surely is entertaining and very block buster !
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Watch this when your tv watching is dry and you are suddenly consumed by curiosity.
I love anything to do with Asian royal courts so when I saw the title of the movie : I was in.The story is interesting and makes a fascinating watch. The reason why I rate a seven is simply because it was obviously ostenstatious and was super determined to prove a point. One can tell that the writers wrote this out to prove some sort of point and that’s annoying and quite frankly lazy. Good stories do not need to be backed up by the narrator or the maker but they just simply tell their stories without forcing the viewers to feel a certain way.
However - I was successfully pulled along in aghast and shock and did not think for a minute to hit stop and do something else. Instead I was thinking the following; “woah- really?” “This is quite pornagraphic - is this allowed?” “ What the ...?” In my book that counts for something and that’s why it doesn’t score a flat 5.
Moreover -I felt manipulated in my discernment of the plot that I wasn’t sure if my thoughts were really my own as this movie made it it’s mission to control every reaction.
Acting :Kim Min Joon was good because his portrayal of Kwon Yoo was not so concentrated but rather muted and subtle which was a breath of fresh air in the heady 2hrs. Cho Yeo jeong was such an obvious tool in the ostentatious production . She was way too obedient to whoever the director was , much to her shortcoming. The rest of the cast just fade out quite frankly.
Music was dramatic and tense and so was the cinematography. It really aided the curious intentions of the production. Solid 8.
As for rewatching- I don’t need to rewatch this and neither should you. Like I said in the headline : Watch this when your tv watching is dry and you are suddenly consumed by curiosity.
Overall - meh. The shock factor just became blah but that finale scene really was something! Kudos to Cho Yeo Jeong for that seriously crazy last scene !
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Utterly satisfying and exceptionally delivers on its simple premise
This is made for 15- 21 year olds. However do not let these uniform clad dreamers deter one ,whatever age ,in watching this satisfying show.This drama is a lot of wholesome things similar to a warm chicken soup.Nostalgia is definitely one of them. Its also full of heart and music and one does go away pretty educated in Korean pop cultural phenomenons like how k pop groups come about and that sort of thing. However- fundamentally , its the story of Dream High that is its crowning glory even going as far as to overshadowing its actors and its music in my view.
The story at its core is based on a simple premise . Its pretty obvious what will become of our leads from the get go and so forth BUT there' s a certain X Factor to this premise. I applaud the writer for writing a show about chasing your dreams and overcoming obstacles that may come your way . I loved the emphasis on the importance of having a good character full of integrity, grit and kindness. I also found it so heartwarming that the story fundamentally centers on the importance of having a dream and daring to pursue it. And most importantly- that one must remain faithful to that dream. That in the end of it all there is no useless dream . Sure the title “Dream High “ may come across as cheesey but I found this' chase your dreams' business to be quite profound and wonderfully done.
The characters are not your typical archetypes and have surprisingly interesting layers . It was really refreshing to see a flawed heroine who made mistakes and was quite unlikeable. The heroine is sort of like the titular Emma by Jane Austen; vain and unattractively proud. The other protaganist is the tail much like Harriet is to Emma but with an interesting uprising to her . The others all embodied that integrity , grit and kindness. The parallels that characters had with other characters was also skilfully dimensional . The ancillary stories of the supporting cast were so engaging and sweet.The romance was quite subtle and yet this drama manages to boast some of the best love declaration scenes out there .The romance also ensured characters grew because of the vulnerability presented by love.
I’m not even going to analyse the acting because to be fair- this is geared to a younger audience that really want to see charm, good singing and good looking people . No Cannes Film Festival pathos driven acting here but the product of this cast is everything good and thoroughly commendable. No wonder after Dream High , superstardom was ready and waiting for its actors especially Suzy Bae, IU and Kim Soo Hyun.
The music, much like the romance ,show and tell the growth of the characters . The songs are stories of their own and its quite possibly the most heartwarming and integral score for a drama where the actors performed in my view. The tracks are tinky bops that become dated listens but the renditions of a Goose Dream ,Winter Child and Only Hope are gorgeous! The theme song is the best and the most catchy . I found myself singing it everywhere. However- The best song definitely goes to IU - Someday.
OVERALL- very good and worthy watch. Sometimes you just need a drama like this: one that you know will be utterly satisfying and deliver on its very simple premise.
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Captured young adulthood so well then lost the plot !
Disclaimer : I have one and half episodes to go and unfortunately have no desire to complete them. That is how plotless this drama became.Let me start with the good points . The show had a splendid start depicting young adulthood in the throes of university life . The cast seemed promising in Han So Hee of The World of the Married fame and Song Kang of Love Alarm and Navillera fame .Not to mention how aesthetically pleasing and fashion conscious the drama was . All this blended in with the beautiful cinematography and well shot scenes . The camera angles really made the viewer feel like they were in the shot and thats how full bodied the drama started off.
As for the plot - this was the enthralling aspect of the drama.Every guy has met a Nabi; every girl knows or was involved with a Jae-un. There’s lots of immaturity and poor communication. We are left trying to figure what everyone’s motives are. And this happens in real life . I can testify as a young adult myself . The insertion of a LGBTQI+ romance was also so substantial.So of course EVERYTHING was lined up for me to eagerly watch and consume this show.
My goodness! What a sham it ended up being . At one point there was no dialogue in an episode. The back stories were not fleshed out and left the viewer unnecessarily wondering what the heck is the point was!I slowly became detached with how inane it was becoming hence I could not finish it .
For a drama that could've been a truly inspiring and enlightening show about situationships and relationships for confused people in their 20's or for people who fall for the wrong ones and end up hurt, they merely reduced it to a 'beautiful cinematography' with no plot.
Great music though !
However , I still do not recommend!
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An incoherent drama with an odd entertaining factor
Strong Woman Do Bong Soon is one of those dramas that are overhyped and I do not really know why.I did not find it amazing or out of this world ,in fact ,I found Strong Woman ahem, STRONGLY incoherent , inconsistent , not well focused and not well-intentioned . However, it did have an entertainment factor going for it and for that I pulled through and watched all 16 episodes. Other than that, it’s not that special besides the fact that the female lead is very strong. So ?
What is the point of Strong Woman actually ? It has a lot elemental things inserted such as criminality , super powers , family and the police but still found it very hard to convey a message or running commentary on any of the elements . It was just pure fluff and highly silly throughout.
I won't comment on acting because the actors were brought down by the elemental stupidity of the drama they were acting in so I can not assess at all.
I believe that if you are going to base your story in a setting prevalent in society like a police station or a corporation ,commentary of those settings needs to be seen and heard . Unfortunately , this drama lacked everything.
In conclusion - This show is not that bad . BAD being the operative . But you keep watching because of that inexplicable charm that K dramas have !
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A very respectable drama but...
I like to call King 2 Hearts a dramas drama just like how there is a singers singer . For example , Susan Boyle. A lot of artists look up to Susan Boyle for her vocal control , richness and intonation . She is literally perfect but us listeners are not exactly rushing to hear her latest offering or filling up stadiums in a frenzy . She is a tasteful option much like King 2 Hearts that really excelled in a tight plot ,near perfect character progression, politics, history , depiction and set up. I would implore a bunch of script writers to glean from King 2 Hearts to see that it is very possible to have all types of elements and still have a tight piece of work that does not bust at the seams.However - like Susan Boyle , X factor and pathos are thoroughly lacking in TK2H. I really failed to overall emotionally resonate with all aspects of the story . I found it hard to pick up most of the time but when I did watch - I would watch in long bursts but I really did not find it wholly engaging .Emotional resonance is lacking and it’s the main couple itself . I mostly fast forwarded their scenes together and struggled to like the look of them together. They are individually competent actors their screen aptitude together was particularly dismal for me. I also found the dramatic tension puerile in execution. A bit over played . Everything was necessary but it really was not breaking new ground and I put up with the hysterics for the sake of the plot. Insert unnecessary death scene but anyways ( shrug)
On a positive note -I commend the drama for having each character have a central conflict . It added dynamism and made for an enduring watch.Character evolution was also top notch and great ladies too. The ladies were not ones to shy away from their feelings and they owned their narrative! I liked that depiction.Moreover - the supporting cast were the best moments. The Princess and The Captain's story line brought much needed pathos and musicality ( they sang a song , swoooooon) and the global presence of the villain was very intriguing.
The royal aspect was fun and the insertion of the Korean separation made for depth. I realised that ,perhaps, the worst part about the Korean War was that the people were just thrown into it. It wasn't just about the Koreans picking an ideology and fighting against each other.The commentary on that made for pleasant ponder.
The music was pretty decent too . The ballads and instrumentals complemented the atmosphere and epic scale of the drama. I am glad to know that "Missing You" - the main leads song, won awards and also Jo Jong Suk scooped best new actor . Those who love him should give TK2H a watch too!
OVERALL-It is pretty epic though . The deaths, kidnapping and love declarations and the torment of the war and separation make this drama a must watch and very unique but I found the King 2 Hearts to be just okay in the end hence I cannot give it anything above 8.
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A whimsical and zany watch that does a good job at pulling at the heart strings.
Fated to Love You is one of those shows that has a really high emotional IQ. Everything just felt instinctively right at all times.It was so right that there are so many favourite things to pick up from this drama. First off -its cast is its crowning glory . The pathos delivered by every component of the cast was stellar . A second has to be the themes explored . Every one of the themes was so fleshed out that there is no room for you to sit and debate. The evolution of the motifs is also remarkable . Probably the best drama motifs I have ever come across to be honest . There was the snail , the man cave , the dogs, the rings , the art , the 9 and 6 , and many more . All made entire sense and made the continuity of the show superb and really fun to watch.
The acting was pretty faultless. Some may find Jang Hyuk's Lee Geon difficult to pallet but he grows on you . Je na Ra's Kim Mi Yeong is a literal saint and kudos to the actress because that role was so nuanced and very easy to get wrong .
The format of the show is also one of it crowning moments . I found the unconventionality and eccentric execution of the script very refreshing especially for a rom com which can get rather hum drum and basic. However- Fated to Love You really does stand out in its tackling of zany , romance , comedy and melodrama. Yes, its rather sad and has tremendous melodrama however it ultimately makes Fated to Love You a generously rewarding drama for everyone.
Now why does it have an 8? Well- do you like a very well fleshed out second lead story? Where the main female lead spends so much time with them (second male lead) that they might as well get together? Where the male lead is kinda horrible and a tad bit difficult to root for but you feel bad and reconcile that ,whatever, they belong together though you are still not convinced?
I'm petty when it comes to rom coms and I prefer some succinctness and tightness to the premise. That annoyed me and I did utilise the fast forward button. However - if you are not petty like me and find it rather dimensional , adds to the story , shows expert character arching then you will like this aspect . It does actually make dramatic sense in the end. Also , noble idiocy is way too drawn out but again- it all made dramatic sense.
I also love a good and understandable ending but the ending managed to exasperate as I felt a certain trope was overused and therefore this show could not inch out a 0.5 out of me to make it 8.5. However - I reiterate ,this too made dramatic sense as it is called "fated" to love you after all.
OVERALL- Yes it’s flawed(by my standards) - but it really is a very good and fun watch ( I binge watched it and I am by no means a binge watcher) and one will know that they have watched a gem . It truly is up there in the world of rom com.
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