rachel
Singapore
But, if we can separate it from the historical context and accuracy or lack of it, the movie itself, as a classic good-vs-evil action thriller, is pretty entertaining and exciting. The appeal of it is boosted by its star-studded cast; if it had been a B-list cast it might not have been so popular or well-executed. Lee Jung-jae and Ha Jung Woo in particular are excellent in this. They have great screen presence and are positively smouldering, stealing the limelight in any scene they are featured in. Jeon Ji Hyun does a decent job, especially with the action scenes she was handed.
A thrilling action movie you’ll definitely enjoy.
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The antagonists aren't very antagonistic and don't pose much of a threat to the lead characters. That's both a credit to the writing of both the antagonists and leading couple.
What I really love about the leading couple is their strength, their maturity. No unnecessary angst, mother-in-law drama or dead-fish kisses here. It's enhanced so much by the chemistry and ease between Shin Mina and So Ji Sub.
There really isn't much happening story-wise, and this is where the cast saves it from becoming a snooze fest. Shin Mina and So Ji Sub feel very comfortable with each other and it really adds to their fantastic chemistry as a leading couple. It's my first time watching Yoo In-young and I really like what she did with an otherwise tepid character. There's really nothing much to comment on Jung Kyeo-woon, because it seems he was given very little material to work with.
Overall, a pretty light and uplifting drama, but somewhat forgettable.
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My favourite story is, obviously, the 29-year-old’s story. Kim Young Kwang and Kyung So Jin’s chemistry is incredible, as friends, to playfully flirting friends, to being more than lovers. It’s also one of the better friends-to-lovers stories in the Korean dramas I’ve seen.
The most frustrating characters are those in the 39-year-old’s story. It felt like there was little movement or development of their characters. It’s not the actors’ fault, but likely lies in the writing. Really enjoyed Oh Jung-se’s acting here.
First time seeing Sungjae acting, and he did a pretty decent job.
Another standout feature of this show is the music. Clearly each song has been lovingly chosen to match each scene and the sentiments/feelings of the characters in each scene.
Overall, a really light, guilt-free rom-com watch with sufficient angst to keep you invested and interested in the characters.
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The story is not original - a good and dogged cop chasing after an elusive villain. The characters themselves are not that original either. But the cast make this script an electrifying movie to watch. Hwang Jung Min is fantastic as an everyday-man kind of cop who is passionate about his job and genuinely cares about people. Yoo Ah-in pulls you in with his performance as a villain who you love to hate, yet can't help but find out more about. Yoo Hae-jin is a sidekick with a difference and he does a great job of it, as he does with all his other roles. Special shout-out to Jin Kyung, who puts in a great performance in any show she's cast in.
You can tell that the cast are having so much fun playing their characters, and it is infectious, because this show is a thoroughly entertaining ride. Yes, you are rooting for the good guys, but you are also excited to see what tricks the bad guys next pull out of their hats. For this reason, I think this show has a decent rewatch value.
Overall, greatly entertaining with outstanding performances by the cast.
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The central plot in this show and the plot devices are not unique at all, hence my admission that I only watched it for the actors. Fortunately, I did come to enjoy this show quite a bit.
The lead couple has a really cute romance - I’d put that down to the cast and their chemistry. As the show went on, the male villain became more and more villainous for the sake of it, he just eventually became a non-compelling villain. One of the poorer villains around.
One of the more boring aspects of the how is the corporate hijinks, trickery and plotting. Safe to say this show didn’t handle that plot device very well. During those times I got pretty bored and sometimes found myself using too much brainpower trying to understand what was happening in the company. The initial part of the show is cute, but dangerously goes into classic melo territory in the last 4 episodes or so, filled with unspoken misunderstandings and groundless accusations and assumptions, plus huge plot holes that were not properly resolved/explained by the end of the show. Definitely tainted a show that was otherwise enjoyable.
Otherwise, a not-too-draggy watch that was well-paced for 16 episodes.
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In terms of story, I would have to wrack my brain to find any flaws in it. When the storyline in your typical thriller would start dropping at episode 10, this drama just keeps going. The pacing never fails. Where you would expect cracks to emerge in the main couple’s relationship, the writer instead takes the opportunity to show the audience that this is a couple to get behind and cheer on.
Admittedly, up till about episode 10, I didn't actually love the show that much, but thankfully the story picked up and pushed through to reach the pace and excitement that this show promised.
So many delightful characters and relationships in this show that are well-developed and evolve through the show. Because I don’t want to spoil it, I can’t reveal my favourite relationship that moved me the most. But my favourite character is Moon-ho, played by Yoo Ji Tae. I don’t know how much credit goes to the writer and how much goes to the actor, but I do love Yoo Ji Tae’s charisma, which just shines off my computer screen.
Yoo Ji-tae is just perfect in this show - perfectly cast and played the role so well. Park Min-young seems to excel at everywoman roles.
It’s a pity that a better actor was not cast for the role of Moon-shik, who would otherwise be a worthy adversary to Moon-ho. The actor cast in this case was pretty stone-faced and wasn’t very menacing for a villain. In any case, Moon-shik is a pretty fascinating character.
All in all, a freaking exciting show to watch.
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At first, I struggled to put into words why I enjoyed this show so much. I guess it’s because there are so many relatable and very human moments in this show, and lessons to be learnt. And they are pretty universal, but feel especially relevant to those who work in office environments and large organizations.
The characters are well-developed, and they mostly don’t make decisions that are baffling or completely illogical. Even if they do, their characters and backstories are so well filled-up that you understand and/or empathize with their situations.
Im Shi-wan always strikes me as being too pretty, but I did watch him in The Attorney and he was excellent there. He is also excellent. At the beginning, I found his prettiness really distracting, but he plays the reserved and thoughtful Jang Geu-rae perfectly.
Lee Sung Min is excellent as a frazzled, but compassionate and dogged supervisor, whose gruff demeanour betrays his tender heart.
Byun Yo Han is truly the breakout star of this series, playing a chirpy and sparkling character who must also overcome obstacles and learn what it means to be a worker. Glad to know he’s know getting good roles that are also fitting for his age.
I can totally envision myself rewatching specific episodes, especially after a tough day at work.
Overall, I HIGHLY recommend this show to all.
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The ragtag team of orchestra members who each must overcome their personal obstacles, and the unlikely love stories among them. These themes never fail to warm my heart, especially when they’re executed with care like in this show. Not too much cheese, but getting the message across nonetheless.
Shim Eun-kyung’s portrayal of the Nodame character did seem exaggerated at first, but then again I remember being pretty disgusted and put-off about the Japanese live-action one. What I appreciated most was the emotional development and maturation of Nae-Il throughout the course of the show.
I think Joo Won did a really good job of portraying the Chiaki character. In fact, I like his portrayal better than Hiroshi Tamaki’s in the Japanese live-action. At times, the Japanese version was a bit violent (in fact it’s something I observe in Japanese live-action shows in general). He showed so much emotional growth and maturity that was satisfying.
Go Kyung Pyo is excellent as always in this type of role as a goofy, best-pal character.
As always, the classical music was really enjoyable, and was weaved seamlessly into the story and journeys of the characters. Executed just as well as the Japanese live-action version.
Overall, a lot of care was put into creating this remake, and it is clear from the final product. A very enjoyable watch that doesn’t have too much high drama but with satisfying character journeys and growth.
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I think it says something about the quality of the show when a reviewer has little to say about the show. All I can say is it was pretty forgettable.
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There is plenty of laughs and tears in this show, which makes it overall an entertaining watch. For those who were familiar with the music of the era and the music from the real Cest Si Bon group, this is sure to be a nostalgic watch for you, with a number of songs from the era on the soundtrack.
Jung Woo's character is the emotional core of the movie and he does a good job carrying the movie. You could say Han Hyo Joo's character is the main antagonist of the movie. She does a decent job as a coy, ambitious young woman who captures the heart of all the men she meets.
Overall, a decent watch with a fair amount of laughs and sad moments.
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At times the humour and references can't be translated and truly conveyed to a non-Korean audience, and would need an explanation. Other than that, the humour is pretty slapstick and a little bit fratboy-ish at times. Some scenes with physical comedy were really funny, others were slightly gross.
I'm guessing Kang Haneul and Kim Woo Bin signed on for this movie before they became really famous and their popularity skyrocketed. There are also a few other actors and actresses in this movie you're bound to recognize.
Overall a pretty light comical watch.
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Eric and Jung Yumi’s chemistry makes the drama even more watchable. The hurt from their previous broken relationship is palpable in their scenes together. I’ve never watched Eric in a drama before and I’m thoroughly impressed by his acting skills. I’m quite sure his gaze can melt the iciest of hearts and convince anyone that he is 200% infatuated with them.
Yoon Hyun Min and Kin Seul Gi deservedly steal the limelight as the cute, bickering pair of friends. I’ve watched both of them separately in previous shows and am glad to see their chemistry is so good in this show.
I also enjoyed the soundtrack - it wasn’t too in your face, like many Korean dramas tend to do. It would do its job in the background but not overshadow the dialogue and the characters.
Recommended if you’re looking for a light romance.
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Plus, there was a total overuse of dramatic music like soaring choruses.
As the show progressed, I appreciated the storytelling style of the writer, where we are thrown into the moment of the story, but we also get to understand the background and history between different characters through their eyes.
What I really liked about the story is how the characters shift and morph through the course of the show, in terms of their motivations and their allegiances. Sometimes I can feel that the writers are toying with our allegiances to the characters, but I was willingly ‘manipulated’ because it was enjoyable to see the characters choose how to play their chess pieces.
My favourite is probably the relationship between Kim Rae-won and Jo Jae Hyun’s characters. So complex, compelling and heartbreaking all at the same time. Great performance by both actors too.
Another thing that annoyed me about the show is the very unrealistic portrayal of the legal system and prosecutors. I am familiar with legal systems but not so much with the Korean legal system. Even then, I’m pretty sure this is pretty unrealistic. In any case, it’s a drama, not real life, so I’ll drop this point.
And my gripe about overuse of dramatic music remains. While there are definitely many twists and turns in the story within every episode, I became extremely desensitised to these twists and turns because every scene would use the same dramatic music.
Overall, an enjoyable thriller.
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What was disappointing: Certain parts of the story descended into totally unnecessary classic Korean drama noble idiocy. The show definitely felt like it could have ended at 18 episodes and safely and neatly tied the story up conclusively.
That said, there are many redeeming aspects to this show. The chemistry between Jang Hyuk and Jang Nara is totally worth sitting through some of the more agonising parts. What a great reunion of early 00s greats. Jang Hyuk is so, so awesome in his role. He swings from maniacal to sincere and heartbroken, with the smallest expressions on his face revealing what a less capable would otherwise need a few minutes to express. I also enjoyed the way Jang Nara’s character was written - as a timid woman forced into a very peculiar set of circumstances, she wised up quickly and she learnt very quickly how to protect herself, all without betraying her true nature. Of course credit must also be given to Jang Nara for playing out all these nuances of her character.
I also really enjoyed the various cultural references, a few to famous Korean movies, and a few to Jang Hyuk and Jang Nara’s previous projects. There are a few moments I'll always remember and would certainly want to relive, so I believe there is some rewatch value in it.
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Thankfully there’s enough cute to get me through the whole show, not just the OTP, all the other side characters too.
I’m pretty impressed by Ji Hyun Woo, it being only his second time as a leading man in a show. I was won over by the growth of his character throughout the series. He definitely have charisma and potential. Eunji, as always, is feisty yet moving at certain points. They have great chemistry too. Love the OTP.
The side characters were a mixed bag. Shin Sung Rok is magnetic as a quirky but caring boss. Lee Se Young, on the other hand, was so bland. Bleh. She just sucked all the energy on the screen whenever she appeared. It’s the fatal mix of one-dimensional lazy writing and wooden acting. I love Answer Me 1994 so I definitely liked Sohn Ho Joon. Shin Bora also played quite a funny side character.
Any re-watching of this show would just make me rage. So NO re-watching for me.
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