Cute and sweet at times but I struggled to stay interested and focused on the story. I also felt like the leads (while sweet) didn’t have much chemistry. The story is as typical as it gets for this genre of sageuk. Could be worth a watch if you’re in the mood for a historical drama that doesn’t make you think to much and that you can multi-task while watching and just enjoy it for what it is.
This was the first drama to get me really hooked in a while. It took a bit for me to adjust to Lee Dong Wook as Lee Yeon but once I did I was sucked right in. I loved the story and the characters. It felt really reminiscent of a Hong Sister’s drama (the likes of Hwayugi or Hotel Del Luna...something in the way the fantasy elements were intertwined with reality along with the dialogue and character relationships really made me think of the Hong Sisters). I docked it a star because I wasn’t that impressed with the last episode and the way things wrapped it but otherwise the story was impressively well done and I really enjoyed watching it.
So surprisingly (for me anyway) good! Not my normal cup of tea but it was well produced and kept me hooked. Also: The! Cast! Netflix is really bringing it on with their K-Dramas. I enjoyed the rather original world that was built for this very unoriginal genre. There were still some obvious clichés but also times it really surprised me. Bingeworthy for sure! I hope we get a second season!
I really wanted this to be darker...and perhaps a bit more original but instead it was painfully cliche and predictable. The best way to describe it is how my husband (Korean) came into the room right at the end of episode 15, as I moaned with annoyance/frustration and he looked between my aghast expression and the screen and said, "Wow, such a Korean drama." There you have it. Loved Moon Chae Won though. Just hoped for more. Sigh.
Meh. It was okay. Definitely not Kim Soo Hyun’s best role but Seo Ye Ji was fantastic. I wish I could have loved it more but I found the plot to be a little predictable and slow at times. It definitely had it’s moments though and perhaps if you binge it it would be better (I watched it slowly over a period of weeks, part of which it was currently airing)...so it ultimately lost its luster. Anyway, worth a watch on a rainy day but nothing to scream about.
How I wish this drama could have stuck to the original material more. I understand that things have to be “adapted” for television but it’s like the took the names of the characters and made a completely different story. I was even looking forward to more Er Lang but his character was totally different. So very disappointing :( Maybe if you didn’t read the book then it’s okay...but those who have read it beware!
You know when you’re doing a puzzle and you find a piece you *swear* goes with another piece, but as soon as you try to put them together there is resistance and you have to force it? So you try even harder to make them fit until they are stuck together but just when you think “there!” You quickly realize that, no...the resistance had been present for a reason. Those pieces do not, in fact, go together even though they are both part of the same puzzle, even though they looked just right...The King: Eternal Monarch (TKEM) felt like that. It had all of the elements of a drama I love...all of the “pieces” looked just right...but it’s like they were jumbled up and forced together unnaturally. The way the timeline jumped around bothered me. The progression of the character’s emotions bothered me (and this coming from the girl who’s always rooting for the leads to just-get-together-already). The lack of Kim Eun Sook’s (writer’s) typical m connections and chemistry between her characters bothered me. I just felt like I was *watching* a drama rather than being *sucked in* to a drama, as I usually am with her works. I couldn’t fully connect with any of the characters. I also often found my attention wondering. Though there were definitely captivating moments (best for me was Tae Eul’s voice over “I realized he wasn’t from a different world, but a different time.” Goosebumps! But also other scenes that definitely brought on the feels, especially with some of Kim Eun Sook’s poetic dialogue), whenever I started to think everything was finally all fitting together in a satisfying manner...just as those puzzle pieces, I would soon realize that it still wasn’t quite right. This is all the more surprising given how Kim Eun Sook’s dramas normally have my full attention, even through multiple re-watches (exception: Mr. Sunshine. But while ultimately not my cup of tea, still had a genuine Kim Eun Sook feel). Perhaps this was just a fluke for her, it certainly felt like a bit of an experiment from her normal writing (way more “twists” than her usual plots, reminess of Song Jae Jung dramas...the likes of “Memories of the Alhambra” or “W” especially with all the “time” play) or maybe she had an intern on-board. It could also be in part that Kim Go Eun is still so distinctly Ji Eun Tak from Goblin for me (seriously they should have given her a *really* different look or something). The last few episodes were definitely more captivating and felt a lot more like what I was expecting from Kim Eun Sook...though I’m still left a bit disappointed with the ending. Whatever the reason for the inconsistency, TKEM will go down as a drama I mostly enjoyed but probably won’t be returning to.
In the end, I was left with questions...how did Yi Gon travel after the first time he went back and his half of the manpasikjeok disappeared? Without that, he shouldn’t have been able to. I’m also confused about that God-like character. He reminded me a lot of the God character in Goblin, but more mysterious and less developed. They showed us that he was actually present in many scenes but then left that unexplained. I suppose we could chalk Yi Gon and Tae Eul retaining their memories up to either a thank you gift from the universe or Godlike Character choosing the “just leave it be” route...but why some characters and not others (seemed like Jo Young remembered everything)? Gah. Luna’s fate sure changed in the Kingdom...but how does she not have cancer anymore (pretty sure that shouldn’t have just been the result of her previous life of crime...not sure how her upbringing changed her fate, exactly)...I’m sad that Kim Eun Sook didn’t utilize her more in the end, I was expecting something a bit more epic from her than just a quick text to Tae Eul’s dad. I don’t like these questions and unknowns, and I’m definitely not accustomed to having them after a Kim Eun Sook drama (once again: I feel like I just watched a Song Jae Jung show). What was the point of the manpasikjeok? Why does Yi Gon even have the ability to travel (why does the manpasikjeok allow it)? Seems like it’s something that’s just indefinitely around now...he can go anywhere, to anytime...but why? To what end? This part of the story was so underdeveloped...and I suppose it could be considered (ultimately) irrelevant if the focus is on the relationship between the characters but the lack of an explanation here really bothered me.
It’s totally possible these answers were in the drama, and I just missed it (I repeat: wondering attention). In which case, I apologize for giving Kim Eun Sook some flack. I still loved the flow of her dialogue and the wholesomeness of her side characters, which are both something she always excels at writing. I’m just selfish and wanted more......
As per my usual feelings towards (most) award winning movies, I do not understand the hype for this. To me, it seemed like every-other Korean move out there in this genre. I'm told its genius lies in subtleness through the film but...I just don't see it or find it all that impressive. I'm happy a Korean move broke records and was finally highly acclaimed in the international film scene but...it's just not for me.
Not my usual cup-of-tea but my boyfriend wanted me to watch it so I did. The production and acting are top notch and the story is pretty unique as far as Korean dramas go. The ending is also a shocker so it obviously is going to draw me in to Season 2. Hoping the quality prevails.
Aw geez. I knew I'd end up watching this one despite my reluctance not to. The beginning really had me sucked in but it progressively started to loose my attention. In the end, it was cute but predictable. I think "Are You Human, too?" was a lot better in this whole fantasy realm of AI's developing emotions. But Holo was endearing and I did enjoy the sweetness and sincerity of the characters here. It's worth a quick watch, just don't expect too much from it.
While a little outrageous in it's concept, it was otherwise a well-made drama. I just couldn't love it, and I feel like Hyun Bin's talents were terribly wasted on Ri Jung Hyuk. Not that I didn't like him or find him to be an incredibly sweet and charming character...I just feel like he was a little boring overall and he could have probably been played by anyone. Of course, I appreciate the Hyun Bin eye-candy and I'll take it. I was just a little disappointed. Overall, I enjoyed it enough to finish, and the last few episodes were definitely more engaging than the first part of the series. But I probably won't be re-watching this one.
Familiar Wife was just…okay. It wasn’t awful. It wasn’t great. It was good enough for me to keep watching (but let’s be honest, I really just kept going for Ji Sung despite not really liking his character all that much). I actually did not really like either of the leads or really the overall message of the drama. There were a couple of nice moments though, and the soundtrack was really good.
This drama was so entertaining to watch. It definitely wasn’t perfect, and it was hurt a little by some lag towards the latter half that unfortunately brought it down from what I would have otherwise rated as a 10. There was a lot of repetitive back-and-forth between our three leads that got old really fast and just drug the story out unnecessarily…but that aside, I found “Extraordinary You” to be so refreshing and unique, filtered with a nice twinge of nostalgia (It really felt like a manga/manhwa come to life). There were moments that made my heart race and other moments that had me laughing out loud. Having seen literally hundreds of dramas, that is a rare feat for me nowadays. I thought that the story remained true to itself through to the end and it wrapped up in the best way that it could, with an ending I’m completely satisfied with. I thought that everything made sense with the story we were given and it flowed together in a nice way that was “realistic” for the world it took place in (as opposed to, say, “W” which—while entertaining—pretty much lost its mind and all sense). I LOVED the soundtrack…it really added an even deeper emotional element to the scenes. Ro Woon was absolutely swoon-worthy as Ha Ru (is it just me, or are there moments when he looks so much like Seo Kang Joon)?? Kim Hye Yoon was completely natural in her role as Eun Dan Oh. I loved this couple SO MUCH. What a sweet romance and an endearing fight to be together. The side characters were also entertaining to watch with some twists and tweaks to roles. I’m so sad to say goodbye to this series. Overall it was a wholly satisfying and binge-worthy watch! I’ll be on the look-out with anticipation to see if these writers pen any more dramas!
Trying to think of the right word to describe this drama is hard. It’s a bit scattered in the plot department. A bit miss-matched. It’s serious but also a kinda corny. The directing is focused but dramatic. It’s cute and quite sweet, with a good bit of humor (in the beginning) but then also bogged down in politics. The parts I liked about it, I really liked…and it was enough to keep me going through the whole series. But I wish it had been a little more organized and mature in its storytelling overall. I enjoyed the relationship between Nokdu and Dong Joo a lot. I also especially enjoyed the whole gender-reversal thing where Nokdu was actually pretending to be a woman in the beginning (so unique in K-Drama land compared to the woman-pretending-to-be-a-man typical plotline). I guess I saw Jang Dong Yoon before in “Mr. Sunshine” but I don’t remember so I was surprised at his thoughtful performance here. He was genuine and sincere as Nokdu…and of course Kim So Hyun did great…not her strongest role, but she did the best that she could with what she was given. I also did not realize until much later that this drama comes from the same screenwriter as “Moonlight Drawn By Clouds” (aka “Lovers in the Moonlight”) but as soon as I realized that it made a lot of sense why The Tale of Nokdu made me feel nostalgic. Overall, if you skip past the (snore) boring political side-plots and focus on the leads then this is an enjoyable drama to watch. It definitely satisfied my craving for a sweet, romantic sageuk at least...
When the Camellia Blooms was a sweet drama that surprised me. I really wasn’t expecting that much from it, and while it wasn’t necessarily groundbreaking or mind-blowing…what set it apart was its sweetness and it’s catchy narrative. I really enjoyed the characters, and I especially loved Yong Shik (how could you not?). His steadfast loyalty and genuine commitment to his feelings was just so touching and romantic. What a catch for Dong Baek! She herself showed some nice character development during the series. I like how we got to see her transform from being a soft-hearted, timid woman who only flashed a bit of spunk now and again to being a soft-hearted, bold woman who wasn’t afraid to stand up for herself. That’s what made her relationship with Yong Shik so perfect because she was able to grow as a person with the foundation of his love for her…which is really what relationships should be all about: growth and support of each other. The murder-mystery plot was a nice bit of suspense that kept the story moving and I enjoyed how everything wrapped up. Overall, it still wasn’t perfect but I’m happy to have spent my time watching it.
I’m a huge fan of Seung Gi and I’ve seen all of his dramas. I will watch him in *anything* and the fact that he was in another drama alongside Suzy, who I also love (and super adored them in Gu Family Book)…just made me unbelievably excited.
The first episode of Vagabond was awesome! It was one of the best first episodes I’ve seen in forever. But, unfortunately, the drama went downhill from there. It was full of clichés, co~ven~ient circumstances, poorly plotted and even more poorly executed “twists”…you couldn’t trust anyone, and I felt like it was the same storyline recycled over, and over…episode after episode.
Dal Geon and Hae Ri were really sweet and cute…but I didn’t sense quite the same chemistry there with these two as I did before in Gu Family book. Though that could also be because the romance factor here was super slim…nearly non-existent. Shirtless Seung Gi scenes though were aplenty and I’m thankful for that HAHA.
Other than the glorious eye-candy factor…there’s not much here. If you want to be extremely frustrated and annoyed, though…then this show is for you. Beware the ending. That is all.
In the end, I was left with questions...how did Yi Gon travel after the first time he went back and his half of the manpasikjeok disappeared? Without that, he shouldn’t have been able to. I’m also confused about that God-like character. He reminded me a lot of the God character in Goblin, but more mysterious and less developed. They showed us that he was actually present in many scenes but then left that unexplained. I suppose we could chalk Yi Gon and Tae Eul retaining their memories up to either a thank you gift from the universe or Godlike Character choosing the “just leave it be” route...but why some characters and not others (seemed like Jo Young remembered everything)? Gah. Luna’s fate sure changed in the Kingdom...but how does she not have cancer anymore (pretty sure that shouldn’t have just been the result of her previous life of crime...not sure how her upbringing changed her fate, exactly)...I’m sad that Kim Eun Sook didn’t utilize her more in the end, I was expecting something a bit more epic from her than just a quick text to Tae Eul’s dad. I don’t like these questions and unknowns, and I’m definitely not accustomed to having them after a Kim Eun Sook drama (once again: I feel like I just watched a Song Jae Jung show). What was the point of the manpasikjeok? Why does Yi Gon even have the ability to travel (why does the manpasikjeok allow it)? Seems like it’s something that’s just indefinitely around now...he can go anywhere, to anytime...but why? To what end? This part of the story was so underdeveloped...and I suppose it could be considered (ultimately) irrelevant if the focus is on the relationship between the characters but the lack of an explanation here really bothered me.
It’s totally possible these answers were in the drama, and I just missed it (I repeat: wondering attention). In which case, I apologize for giving Kim Eun Sook some flack. I still loved the flow of her dialogue and the wholesomeness of her side characters, which are both something she always excels at writing. I’m just selfish and wanted more......
The first episode of Vagabond was awesome! It was one of the best first episodes I’ve seen in forever. But, unfortunately, the drama went downhill from there. It was full of clichés, co~ven~ient circumstances, poorly plotted and even more poorly executed “twists”…you couldn’t trust anyone, and I felt like it was the same storyline recycled over, and over…episode after episode.
Dal Geon and Hae Ri were really sweet and cute…but I didn’t sense quite the same chemistry there with these two as I did before in Gu Family book. Though that could also be because the romance factor here was super slim…nearly non-existent. Shirtless Seung Gi scenes though were aplenty and I’m thankful for that HAHA.
Other than the glorious eye-candy factor…there’s not much here. If you want to be extremely frustrated and annoyed, though…then this show is for you. Beware the ending. That is all.