rachel
Singapore
Unfortunately the villainous ministers who plot to undermine the king are not given much time onscreen, but they really are secondary to the plot.
Lee Byung Hun portrays both the real and fake kings well, especially the fake king and how he settles into his role as king. Ryu Seung Ryong is the astute and trustworthy royal secretary who works with conviction. Han Hyo Joo does not have a lot of screentime in this movie, but she gives a good, controlled performance as the queen who loves the king but has been distanced from him by court intrigue and politics.
Really enjoyed it and I can see why it has received so many awards in the 2012 awards season.
Was this review helpful to you?
Interestingly, modern themes like social networking etc don't really figure much in the show, but it doesn't bother me. Every generation will obsess over something trendy, but the friendships and relationships formed around these trendy things will be universal from generation to generation. Where there's a classroom with students, there will be gossip, some troublemakers and lots of friendship. As for modern technology like tablets and smartphones, and why they don't appear much in this show, my guess is this class is mainly made up of students from disadvantaged backgrounds, so they don't possess such expensive gadgets.
As others mention, there is no romance in this show. Personally romance didn't figure in my high school experience, so it wasn't a big factor for me. In fact I preferred that way as I could then focus on other themes I felt were more important. The tone of the show is certainly gloomy. Its pace faltered, especially at episodes 10-13. I could feel like some plots being rehashed at some points. But happily, it picks up at episode 14.
Many episodes brought me on a roller coaster ride of emotions - from moments that made me sob like a baby, to moments where all I wanted to do was bitch-slap some of the villainous and know-it-all characters in the class. Well, all in the day of a Korean drama watcher.
On the bromance point, it is resolved quite soon in the show, leaving us with a good balance of passive-aggressive expressions of concern for each other, and cute moments of friendship and brotherly love among the characters, for better or for worse. I do hope to see Lee Jong Suk and Kim Woo Bin more on the Korean drama and movie scene soon (doesn't hurt that they're pretty cute haha).
I was particularly moved by Jang Nara's performance as the caring homeroom teacher of the class. I could feel a teacher's sincerity through each gentle word of encouragement or comfort she spoke to her students.
On previous criticisms that the ending is 'abrupt' or too open-ended, I feel the tone of the drama would have been disrupted if the ending was too neat or fairy-tale. Students' lives won't necessarily be transformed and their problems won't be instantly solved because of one good year with one good teacher (not doubting the transforming power of one good teacher though). In addition, the fact that the characters are young students means the future is always open-ended and open to change. So I actually really like the ending.
All in all, a good line from the show to sum it up is: "It's not yet time to let go of the kids' hands."
Was this review helpful to you?
The drama starts off really slowly compared to other Hong Sisters' shows. The story plodded along really slowly in general. A lot of the storyline and character growth that occurs from episode 11 onwards could really have happened earlier. The story also subsequently deteriorates into typical Korean drama territory (aka noble idiots and being nasty on purpose to distance your loved ones from you - URGH cannot stand these overused storylines), which just makes me want to give the characters a slap in their faces for being so stupid. In any case, I really expected more from the Hong Sisters. It feels like they were tired of writing fresh dramas and just threw in stereotypical plot twists.
Gong Yoo really won me over with his portrayal of Kyung Joon's emotions - a young man trapped in a grown man's body, trying hard for Gil Da Ran to take him seriously. But towards the end, as the story deteriorated, so did my affection for him and his character.
Lee Min Jung - not much to say about her. I think she did the best with what was written for her.
Oh Suzy.. You are a pretty face, but so far in the shows I've seen her in before this (Dream High, Introduction to Architecture), her characters were pretty one-dimensional. So is this one. Unfortunately her facial expressions were still pretty 'wooden' (stiff) in this show and it doesn't help that her character is quite annoying too.
Poor Shin - he barely got any screen time after the body switch.
By the 14th episode I was so exasperated with the whole show that I was just happy to be watching scenes with Gil Choong Sik (Baek Sang Hyun's character). Throughout the show he was cute, sincere, a little stupid but very endearing. And the 15th episode was completely useless in terms of plot development.
As with the other reviewers, this is my reaction to the ending: HUHHHH?!!
Was this review helpful to you?
Each character is written with a lot of care. We delve deep into their back stories, and I find myself cheering on each one of them, and crying with each one of them. The lessons each character learn are hard but realistic. The show takes you on that journey of growing up.
If there is one thing I dislike about the story, it is the Park Tae Hee character. Yes she's the typical female lead - ditzy but really sweet, cute and talented, but can I just say how annoying I find her. Otherwise, the rest of the cast was just perfect, especially Jo Jung Suk and Im Joo Eun.
The soundtrack is quite unique compared to other dramas - fewer romantic ballads, more fist-pumping songs that make you excited to be young, aspirational and full of dreams.
Was this review helpful to you?
I guess I went in knowing, in a way, what to expect from this drama. But it is still disappointing that it is such a 'forgettable' show.
The characters seem to taken from an oft-used cookie cutter mould in Korean dramas - aloof boy, earnest girl, second lead with a dark past/scars from past relationships, absent fathers/mothers etc. You get the drift.
Verdict: mehhhh.
Was this review helpful to you?
So Ji Sub is the main star of this show.
I wish So Ji Sub would take on a different type of role. The character he plays here is, like so many others he has played (see Always, Ghost etc). Silent, brooding and seemingly evil on the outside but has a soft/loving heart on the inside.
Verdict: mehh.
Was this review helpful to you?
The whole drama is written as a look back from the present to the past, starting from the year 1997. Each episode is written around a particular theme or life lesson - very poignant and stirs up feelings of nostalgia within you.
The ensemble cast in this show is quite hilarious - a good mix of experienced and amateur actors who have good chemistry. Eun Ji from A Pink gives a great debut performance. Seo In Guk too, though Eun Ji steals the show.
A high rewatch value for the fact that the show can teach some lessons we need to learn again and again throughout life, no matter what age we are.
Was this review helpful to you?
When it was first released, man it was THE HOTTEST THING on TV. And it was positively addictive. I was a relative newbie to Korean dramas, so this drama meant the world to me and it was an obsession.
The main reason why one may be attracted to watch this at first is the fact that it rides on the goodwill from Meteor Garden and Hana Yori Dango. I'm not here to compare these adaptations though.
The show is full of scenes that seem hilarious and cheesy on hindsight, but on first watch I never seemed to notice them. I was probably blinded by my addiction. The story is also full of holes.
The only redeeming thing about the cast is the induction of Lee Min Ho into popular consciousness. He played his character well. Another consolation is getting to know Kim Bum the actor. Not his first project, but he became more well-known because of this show. Gu Hye Sun - what a disappointment. Kim So Eun did what she could with the material she had.
The soundtrack is positively in-your-face - you will never think of that silly Paradise song in the same way ever again. It appears in every darn scene possible, even those you never thought possible.
Having said all of that, why I put rewatch value at an 8: when I watch it now, it is so cringe-inducing and hilariously BAD. If you have seen it before and have seen top-quality dramas since (eg Gaksital, City Hunter, Best Love etc), I encourage you to watch it again, and enjoy the show, for TOTALLY DIFFERENT reasons from when you first watched it.
Was this review helpful to you?
Honestly, I don't relate to this mindset, but I really liked Lee Je Hoon, with his portrayal of an awkward and insecure university freshman. Suzy is just alright, since she really didn't have much to grapple with character-wise. Uhm Tae Woong deploys his usual Uhm-force, and Han Ga-in continues the consistently bland character of Seo Yeon.
I really like the ending. That's all I can say without spoiling it.
Was this review helpful to you?
The more outstanding characters include Rie (La La), played by Han Chae Ah, and Shunji, played by Park Ki Woong, mostly for the inner struggles they face throughout the show between love and loyalty. They are villains in the show, but the writing keeps pulling us back from completely demonizing them by reminding us of their humanity.
I do wish Mok Dan were written as a more dynamic character. Also, since the actress is a relative newbie, she might be forgiven for a less compelling portrayal of a not-so-compelling character.
Joo Won does such an excellent job with a character that is well written, but could have easily been very one-dimensional if portrayed by a less committed actor.
The noir genre and the dressing of the period lends some benefits, in the form of those snazzy suits and cool fedoras Joo Won and Park Ki Woong get to wear every episode.
Was this review helpful to you?
Even though Jung Il Woo is pretty much the star of the show, he is well and truly part of a tightknit ensemble cast that have great chemistry together. Each character of the ensemble have their own quirky personality traits, and their own obstacles (personal or otherwise) to overcome as the show progresses.
The Ramyun Shop is used very effectively as the one thing that holds all of them together. Truly a family away from real family.
Was this review helpful to you?
THe characters are hilarious. Maybe a tad exaggerated at times, but Cha Seung-won pulls it off really well. Gong Hyo Jin puts in a good performance as a popstar discarded once she reaches her sell-by date.
Was this review helpful to you?
