All the time I was watching the drama I was feeling like intoxicated, I even couldn't get rid of the goosebumps. However it was a wonderful experience: surreal but also introspective and capable of reminding some philosophical concepts one knows but often forgets.
The storyline consisted of the main intrigue (the srongest point of the drama) and some sporadic detective episodes (very traditional and probably the weakest aspect of the drama). Although many times the events reminded a traditional detective, the main story never failed to captivate.
The acting of Jung Kyung Ho and Park Sung Woong was absolutely amazing: convincing and delicate, undoubtedly, above the average in the kdramas.
Although the soundtrack didn't damage the atmosphere, considering the quality of the drama could be better. Also, in spite of the wonderful experience you have while watching the drama, the strongest point of it is the intrigue and the psychedelic efects which are the strongest the first time you feel them, so it's not the type of dramas you usually will choos to overwatch many times.
However, its a drama with a strong impact witch doesn't leave you indifferent.
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The plot is really amazingly twisted, although the final was banally predictable and the final decision of the main lead dramatic in an absolutely silly way. However, all the atmosphere, the aesthetics, and this type of dark, frustrating, intense, a bit ill love story were so charming that you can forgive all the defects of the drama. Also the acting was really convincing and the second male lead (Takauji's character) undoubtedly catching the eye (well we don't find here so outstanding actors like Kimura Takuya but the main actors do an undoubtedly good job). So I highly recommend this drama ;)
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However, in this drama we can see such an amazing chemistry between the main characters that one can't give less then ten points, although it's not finished. Theoretically, the plot is very simple, an ordinary school story but the charisma of the main leads captivates you and doesn't let you go. I simply loved Huang Johnny's character as he, being so playful and manly too, created an incredible tension in his relationship with Bai Luo Yin. Somehow, you want to rewatch the show a lot of times because of an infinity of charming moments created by Johnny's character.
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However, all other aspects of the drama were great. It's has a really interesting plot where even many supporting roles seem necessary (not all but really quite a lot). A war story is certainly a good material and here even the production is impressive and obviously expensive. The characters are really charming and the chemistry about the main actors (well, as we can see in reality... ;) ) is at the point. Song Hye Kyo is undoubtedly my favorite Korean actress because of her elegant expressiveness and here she's a real pleasure. I also like very much Song Joong Ki and here these two actors create a real field of charisma :D
Well, the soundtrack, unfortunately, can't be compared with that of Goblin but... the drama was fine... 9,5 :D
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Talking about the story, it's an usual school story with a bit of bullying. Nevertheless, the good point of it is that the characters (especially Kamenashi's role of a popular guy) are reflected with really convincing doubts and confusion. The weakness of this cool guy seems realistic and the improving of his pusillanimity quite well developed. So, it's simply refreshing watching this drama.
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One thing that I love of this drama is the poetic power of the scenes, the combination of music-view and a perfect symbolic charge of many moments (as the very first scene, one of the best introductions to a drama I've seen, where Rain's ans Shi Min Ah's characters are laying surrounded by the nature but in different scenery and a wonderful play of light and a deeply touching song make you feel the complicated fate laying in the atmosphere; or, for example, their arms protruding through an open window, capable to transmit the sensation of wind even to a spectator). The story itself, as I've said, is really quite predictable but it's emotional tension is at the point (I don't speak only about the central love story but also about brothers relationship, especially then one of them is disabled).
The acting of the main characters is wonderful. To tell the truth, I'm not a fan of Rain as his characters usually look silly to me but here I can give him 10 points without any doubt. He's complicated, mysterious, attractive, charismatic and moving in this drama. An absolutely flawless acting. Then he feels pain, you can really believe in it (in other dramas I've seen with this actor, unfortunately, I felt a lack of moving strength). It's also my favorite role of Shin Min Ah. She's really very convincing and charming here.
The soundtrack is also absolutely perfect to the drama and one of the best I've ever heard in an Asian drama. Also, somehow the drama has a certain integrity, a strong and captivating atmosphere. It's really worth to watch, although the rating is suspiciously low :O
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Another thing that I love about this drama is its philosophical nature. In a quite mythological style, the story analyzes different existential and moral questions what, unfortunately, can't be found so often in Asian dramas. Then we can find a powerful atmosphere and... Somehow you want to return to this drama, so I strongly recommend it. One of the few disadvantages I can find here is too much politics, however, it's too a question of taste ;)
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The story-line is playful and mature at the same time. You can see here a really interesting and complicated theme of Schizophrenia and also, the thing that surprised me, is that some of the different stories showed in the psychiatric clinic, seem unexpectedly well analysed, considering that they are only side stories. You can really find out here about various mental disorders and the potential ways to resolve them.
Another essential aspect of the drama are strong characters incarnated by such actors as Jo In Sung or Gong Hyo Jin. Firstly, I should pay a tribute to Jo In Sung, as I must admit that he's undoubtedly the most talented Kdrama's actor. It's just that judging his acting skills, one must admit that he's the less static and the most realistic, emotionally fulfilled actor we can see in a Kdrama. Although there are many Korean actors I like very much but I must admit that even in their presence Jo In Sung's talent seems incomparably brighter. Jo In Sung has really an exceptional expressiveness. And in this drama his charismatic and complicated character seems more than credible.
Talking about Gong Hyo Jin, I should say that's undoubtedly the best of her characters I've seen. She really differs to many Korean actresses and her individuality helps her to create a very interesting character. Also, the chemistry between these to is absolute.
One of the best things in this show is that even the supporting roles here are incredibly dynamic and well-acted, it's one of these rare cases I didn't want to skip any scene. So it means that this series is a sincere work without the necessity to drag on the series.
Finally, the soundtrack. There are very few cases you can see such a harmony between the soundtrack and the scenes. They really matches one another.
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However, Goblin is my favorite Kim Eun Sook's drama and there are a lot of reasons. Firstly, here we find a really strong mystical atmosphere and an interesting world with its own rules (I cannot appreciate the perfect musical choice witch makes you really submerge into the fictional world). Also the humor side here is one of the best in the Korean area. Another wonderful thing is, obviously, an incredible cast and the diversity of original characters. It's really nice to see such a charming character as Lee Dong Wook's Grim Reaper, the main lead is also very good, then Kim Go Eun, Yook Sung Jae... And there are so many moments you can watch for a thousand of times and so few moments you prefer to skip... So, undoubtedly 10 ;)
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Talking about the story of Hotel King, it's not original but it's well acted and well showed, without all these awkward kisses and superfluous dramas of a girl (Lee Dae Hae is really capable of creating a bright and powerful role), although yes, some final episodes were dragged by the dramatic behavior of the main lead. However, the chemistry and charm of Lee Dong Wook and Lee Dae Hae (now much more mature then in My Girl and in a much more developed context), is really worth of seeing (just skip the secondary comic storyline) ;)
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I love the aesthetics of painful beauty laying in the relationship of the leads, an interesting development of the characters and another wonderful feature of this drama: the supporting plot disgorged into the integrity of the drama with an absolute naturalness. There are a lot of brilliant dramatic scenes and somehow one can admire it as a good cocktail.
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