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leedohyunstan
Youth Drama at its finest !!
Usually I take MDL ratings with a pinch of salt but this is one of the rare times where the rating actually reflects the quality of the series..in fact I would say this rating is less for how good this drama is...no angst, no unnecessary conflicts..pure love and friendship as it should be..the FL was so charismatic that you couldn't help but fall in love with her..the ML was d definition of boyfriend material...loved d secondary couple and thought they were really amazing which is quite rare for me..overall a beautiful, lively, heartwarming drama that will make you smile and cry happy tears throughout !! bravo !! 10/10 without any reservations!! also special mention to d cinematography !!Was this review helpful to you?
A cute and enjoyable show with sooo much heart !!!
This has honestly become one of my top 5 fav BLs of all time..especially after my 4th rewatch ?..the story was simple yet so brilliantly executed..and don't even get me started on the actors and their chemistry ..it was out of this world and just so natural..the characters were very well written and overall it was just so refreshing and heartwarming to see such a beautiful love story and honestly Shin Ki Tae has become one of my all time fav characters ever..kudos to the actor for doing a fantastic job..this show just proves that with the right team and right cast you can tell a beautiful story in a limited time !!Was this review helpful to you?
A heart wrenching tale of love and regret which transcends time !!
let me first get the one negative thing I have to say out of the way and i.e. that at times the show feels stretched and I also feel the entire story could have been told in a much more effective and impressive way had they cut down on a few absolutely unnecessary filler scenes (which only slowed down the momentum the story was building) and condensed the story to around 12 episodes..but having said thatthis was a very well written and directed show with great performances ...Yoo Ah In as Han Se Ju/Seo Hwi Young was the highlight of the show...I absolutely loved the past story and the friendship of the three freedom fighters..the bromance was funny and endearing and the love story was enjoyable ....the ost added an emotional depth to an already heartwarming tale .also I will give the show credit for having one of the best, most satisfying ending arc for a kdrama... the last 2 episodes were hands down one of the best things I have seen on screen...
My recommendation : have a little patience in the beginning because the payoff for that patience is deeply satisfying !!
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as glorious as the title!!
I will keep this short...Most of the time when I see a hyped drama I start expecting a lot and more often than not it turns out to be disappointing or doesn't live up to the hype...for the first time ever I went in with a lot of expectations ( seeing the rating and hype surrounding the show) and came out 10x times more satisfied than I expected... I have no words to praise how beautiful and well made this drama is...this couple will go down as one of my all time favorite couples and I'm not exaggerating ...their chemistry is insaneeeee...if anyone is on the fence let me tell you not watching this will be a mistake as I'm cursing myself for not watching this sooner !! Absolutely brilliant !!Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Best Tsundere Ever!!!
Re-watched this today and got reminded of why I loved this show in the first place ...It's such a breath of fresh air with great writing, really likeable characters and a swoon-worthy ML in the form of Shin woo!!!I also got to appreciate Namgoong and Da On much better than the first time I watched as that time I was too busy being smitten by Shin Woo!!
Da on is a representation of everyone who had to give up on something they really loved and cared for because they didn't have the courage to openly accept it in front of others at that time!! It's a struggle most closeted people go through and is heartbreaking to see him lose the one person who really loved him!!
Namgoong is just a sweetheart!! A friend that you need by your side in both happy and sad times....a friend that would do anything for you...he is a pretty jolly person in general but becomes a fierce force who is ready to take down anyone who dares to hurt his friends !!
Coming back to one of my all time fav character ....other shows should really take note on how to create a non-toxic tsundere so efficiently!! he is one of the most likeable and well written characters I have ever come across...he loves deeply but is not possessive and for him the happiness of the person he loves is more important even if it means losing that person to someone else. He is a great friend visible from the fact that he helps Da-on figure out his feelings of liking someone from the same gender as he knows how confusing it can get and he doesn't want Da-On to suffer the way he did and though this means that he might lose Taekyung he is ready to do that as long as Takeyung finds happiness with the person he likes...where do you find such rare gems in real life ? the fact that he sent so many messages to Taekyung showing his concern despite knowing that Takeyung might probably never read them just shows that for him Taekyung's well being matters more than him actively flirting or courting Takeyung !! get yourself a man who is ready to dive into a pile of trash for you !!! I can go on and on about Shin woo!! Boy you have my heart!!
Also another wonderful aspect of the show is the OST!! The 2 songs just highlight the emotions of every scene that they are played in !!
This is definitely a must must-watch!!!
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Guilty Pleasure at its best !!
Now I understand all the hype towards this show...having read a lot of negative things I was reluctant to start this thinking what if it turns out like one of those shows that is loved by the masses but is actually lame...fortunately that was not the case..though far from perfect, the show is extremely entertaining thanks to its brilliant production values, the wonderful OST and the overall great performances ( though not all of them were that good )...the biggest strength of the show comes from its highly likeable characters whom you can easily root for...all the 4 leads have done an incredible job ( though I find Song Hye Kyo a bit stiff in some scenes ) in making the characters so relatable that you can't help crying and laughing along with the them...the biggest flaw of the show is its uneven pace and writing...there were episodes were so much was packed in just one while there were a few where hardly anything happened ..but these are just minor nitpicks in an otherwise engaging and satisfying drama...if you are hesitant about this one like me, please don't be and give this one a try..ul end up liking it if not loving it!!!Was this review helpful to you?
While you were sleeping won't let you sleep!!!!
The biggest regret that I have is that even though this drama was in my watchlist, I never got around to watching it thinking it might not be that good..then yesterday on a whim I decided to watch one episode as I wanted to see something with Lee Jong Suk…and here I am writing this review the nextr day having binged all the episodes in a day and a half..I have no words as to how entertaining this drama was. Talk about a full buffet which has something for everyone’s taste. Romance..check..thriller…check..courtroom drama..check..friendships..check. The show does not only have excellent writing but is directed extremely well which keeps the viewer enthralled and engaged and at the edge of their seats at all times. This was probably one of the rare Kdrams where I wasn’t exhausted by the time I reached the last episodes. In fact I enjoyed the last few episodes much more than the beginning.
Another exceptional feature of the drama were the well written and relatable characters which were brought to life by exceptional acting on everyone’s part. Lee Jong Suk ones again proves why he is one of the most sought after and loved stars of the Korean Media. He brings a rare charm to his character who is formidable when needed but also puts his aegyo on when he is relaxed. Bae Suzy is good as always and my god is she pretty!!!
But the real MVP of the series for me was Woo Tak…he is one of the most lovable and helpful characters ever written and Jung Hae brings a sheer honesty to his character that you can’t help but root for and be protective of at the same time..
My only gripe was that though the leads have really good chemistry, the romance sometimes slowed the momentum of an otherwise extremely well-paced show.
All in all this was a total 9.5/10 for me and it might come in my top 5 Kdramas of all time. Will recommend this to anyone!!!
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A decent fun watch!!
I have a lot to say about this drama!! After watching the first episode, I decided to drop it but randomly continued to watch the 2nd ep after a few days and from there it got addictive and I binged it in 2 days straight!! The drama is nowhere perfect!! The story is the same basic story with the lesson of inner beauty! What raises it to a superior level is how self-aware the show is!! It’s supposed to be cheesy and cringey and the makers know it and capitalize on it which is the biggest strength of the show!! It was super funny at times..but it was also very hear touching where it was required!! All in all it had every ingredient of a good Teen drama!!Coming to the characters, it comes as no surprise that Han Seo Jun was my favourite character!! But having said that I would also state that as a couple Su Ho and Joo Gyung worked better for me and I actually wanted them to be endgame despite Seo Jun being my favourite character!! Hwang In Yeop gave an amazing performance and showed his diverse range of acting!! Eun Woo was perfect for the role he was cast..I have heard a lot of complaints about his acting being stiff! I can’t judge from just this drama because here his acting suited the composed character that he played!! Ga Young’s performance also was good though her unnecessary aegyo voice irritated me a bit!!
The one major complaint I had was that the drama dropped in quality from the moment Su Ho and Joo Gyung became a couple! Nothing to do with their chemistry which was good!! It’s just the writing wasn’t as crisp after that as it had been till then! Also Kdramas really need to know when to stop and not keep on dragging just to complete 16 eps..This drama peaked at ep 14 with Joo Gyung realizing her worth and from there it just plateaued and never went high again!! If they would have wrapped up the show there itself, this would have been a far better show!! Still a pretty good time!! I definitely recommend to watch it once!!
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A basic show made exceptional coz of extremely lovable leads!!!
Ok….I honestly enjoyed this a lot..was in my watchlist since god knows when but other dramas always took precedence over it ..maybe the title was a bit off-putting for me…but I decided to watch one episode at random and found it extremely charming and binged it within 2 days..Was the drama perfect by any means? No..will it come in my all-time favs? Probably not.. but there was just this endearing quality about the show that just made me feel all warm and happy and fuzzy throughout its runtime..for me the show worked best when it focused on the relationship between its 2 protagonists and the bromance between the 2 brothers and friendship between bok ju and her friends…coming to the biggest strength of the show..its the chemistry between the leads..i have no words..like honestly it’s one of the best I have seen..it’s their scenes together that breathe magic into an otherwise basic plot and I found myself swooning and giggling in a lot of their scenes ….it’s in the second half from ep 10 onwards that the drama really soars and the leads are the main reason for that ..their cute moments after becoming a couple are everything.. The character of Kim bok ju and joon hyung are very well written and performed excellently by both the actors...coming to a few gripes that I have ..it’s when the plot tries to focus on the subplots is where it loses its charm..I would like to point out a few aspects which I found were jarring to an otherwise beautiful series..the ex-girlfriend plot though added zing to the relationship of the leads, her individual plotline of going through a lot of troubles and facing depression etc was not interesting enough and felt out of place ..also the whole love triangle plot of the coaches and bok ju’s uncle was unnecessary. The middle 4 episodes from 5 to 8 wherein they portrayed Bok ju’s one sided love for the doctor weren’t that interesting and didn’t do much in terms of progression of the plot…bujt these are minor nit-picks in an otherwise enchanting series..
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A charming portrayal of family, friendships, love....80s at its best!!!
I think I found my favorite show of all time…This show is the definition of perfection…I mean seriously I have never ever seen anything so well written. Everything right from the 80s setting to the plot was so well done…especially the characters. It’s very rare to find such fleshed out 3 dimensional characters with such natural interactions that not once did I feel like something is forced for dramatic measures…it really seemed like I was watching a documentary of the characters of a real neighborhood. I will point out a few things that I absolutely adored in the show (I will keep it brief because if I try to tell the positives of this show, words will fall short) :1. The Characters : Each and every character be it the main 5 or the other supporting characters are so beautifully developed that not one of them feels like the show could have done without them.. even minor characters like Deok sun’s friends to Ryu Dong’s father are a delight to watch..if it comes to rounding off my favorites though, I would have to say Deok sana is one of the most earnest characters I have seen…her personality is charismatic and she lights up every scene that she is in.you can’t help but fall in love with her.…I also liked the nuances in Taek’s character which was beautifully portrayed by Park Bo Gumm..But Jung Hwan was the character that touched my heart the most…I felt his longing and his pain of not being able to get what he so desperately wants …in the supporting character my absolute favorite has to be Deok Sanas’ dad!!! He was a gem and he raised the humor of the show to another level altogether. There were scenes where I roared with laughter..at the same time he was marvelous in the emotional scenes too..
2. The 80s Setting : the 80s neighborhood is the star of the show..the reason the show works the way it does is because the characters living so close to each other gives ample opportunities for unplanned interactions. Their lunch or dinner scenes where they are bickering (Deok Sana’s family) or the scenes with the ladies sitting in the courtyard and gossiping about everything were all so well crafted!! It really felt like the characters were from a different time altogether!! Moreover we got a glimpse of how life was in the bygone era…how friends spent their time, how it was to be in love that time..what was the trend in music, in lifestyle, fashion etc everything was beautifully depicted.
3. Sibling Relationships : Realistic portrayals of how actual siblings behave in real life…real siblings don’t go around getting emotional or saying dramatic dialogues..they fight and annoy each other (deok san and Bo-ra) but at the same time they also care deep inside!!
4. The Parents interactions with the Kids : Be it Taek’s fathers immense love for his son (that scene where he rips open a drawer), or the banter between deok sana and her mom & dad, the devotion of Sun Woo towards his mom or the playful banter of Ryu dong with his father, the worrisome love of Mi ran towards her two sons, every parent- child relation brought a unique flavor to the table and showed various forms of parental love.
5. The most important – Friendship : This was the most crucial aspect at the heart of this show. And I’m not talking just about the friendship between the 5 leads but also between the moms and the dads!! The bond between the 5 leads is the main reason that carries the show to another level altogether. I have never met a more caring group of friends off/on screen..sure they bicker and pull each other’s leg and abuse each other verbally but they are there for each other in their actions..the way the entire gang treats Taek like a precious little baby or Doek san being that one pampered/bullied girl in an all guys gang..Sun Woo being like the elder parent in the group..their friendship made me jealous..I wanted to be a part of that gang and hang out with them..also the friendships between the parents..their non stop complaints..their gossips etc everything was just precious..
6. Romance : Frankly as much as I enjoyed the love triangle and that it gave me major anxiety, it was only a partial reason of why I enjoyed the show..I’m not saying that the show would have still been the same without it..obviously the romance was a very important part of the show.. its just that it contributed by adding more depth to an already brilliant show!! The thing I liked the most was that the triangle never became toxic..2 best friends fell for the same girl and despite knowing that they never for a second ill-treated or misbehaved with the other..both were ready to sacrifice their love for the other coz their friendship meant so much more to them..a few scenes just stand out and are a testimony to this…the scene where Jung hwan goes down to tie Taeks shoelace despite taek being a potential love rival…the scene where he wishes on the shooting star that Taek turns out to be a jerk so he can easily hate him…Taek cancels his plan with deok san knowing Jung hwan likes her….the characters are so likeable that I was conflicted throughout the show as to whom I wanted her to end up with..whenever there was a possibility of her being with either I felt bad for the other..In the end she got together with one of them (which was hinted throughout the show in the subtle writing) and though I loved them together my heart broke for the other guy!! That confession scene which was then told as a joke but it actually wasn’t, was one of the most beautiful confessions I have seen..also the subsequent scene of that person regretting being hesitant and all the chances he lost!!!!Oh my heart is weak!!
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Like a hot cup of tea on a cold winter evening!!!
So I finished watching this just now and it took me just 36 hours to complete this ...the way I binged it..I started this show with no expectations at all.. I had heard about it and saw the rating quite high here on mdl so decided to watch 1 episode to test it and then 36 hours later here I am!! Words cannot describe how much I loved this show!! I can go on and on about the story acting direction etc but that is true for many other shows especially Kdramas..what made it stand out for me was the way it made me feel...like I am going through something right now personally and this show just calmed me and made me feel so warm from inside ...ultimate comfort watch!! I cannot give it a higher praise than this!! I could not find one fault in the show..like come at me me with a criticism and I'm sure I will be able to defend it!!! Kudos to the entire team!! Also thanks to this show for introducing me to the most adorable cutie pie/sexy man Kim Seon Ho!! 20/10Was this review helpful to you?
Messy Story and Selfish Characters in the name of Complexity and Reality!!
I really liked the first half of this show but I had anxiety issues watching this show in the 2nd half!! I'm all up for flawed characters and complex storylines..I don't mind seeing relationships where one partner cheats over the other because it is realistic and happens in real life..but when the plot demands the main characters to be flawed, the story also needs to give them motivation for behaving the way they do..or else they come off as selfish jerks rather than complex characters...the main leads for which we are "supposed" to root coz they are "supposed" to be the endgame, give us no reason to stick up for them ..not once is the viewer convinced that they are in love and that is the reason behind their hurtful behavior towards their respective partners.. rather it looks like 2 people just enjoying having sex out of their relationships..so rather than being empathetic towards their characters, you end up hating them and that shouldn't happen in a series where they are being promoted as the main love interests...the writing is just messy and all over the place..the characters are very under developed and poorly written especially in the second half..I especially have a major issue with the character of Hai Qinq..rather than coming of as a confused person whjo doessnt know how to chose between someone he loves and someone who has been there for him, he comes off as an entitled brat who emotionally manipulates the person who has done so much for him. The only well written and likeable character is of- Pin Jun ( (no surprises there)...my heart aches for him and the amount of emotional distress I suffered for this man is unimaginable...how can someone do that to the perfect boyfriend who loves you from the bottom of his heart!!! All my generosity in the ratings is just for the character of Pin Jun..he really carries the show on his shoulders!!!Was this review helpful to you?
First Love at its best!!
The way I cried at the end!! What a beautiful movie!! I can't believe I hadn't watched this till now in spite of it being in my to watch list since a long time..It captures the essence of first love and all the awkward and cute things associated with it. Part funny, part romantic and part heartbreaking the movie never fails to keep you entertained throughout its runtime.Baifern is a wonderful actress and never fails to amaze in anything she does. To see that she was so talented right from her starting days is not a surprise considering the powerhouse performer she is today. Her eyes alone convey so many emotions. Mario Maurer as Shone is extremely handsome and a perfect boyfriend material. The confession scene towards the end was heartbreaking and the twist right after though a little predictable was so poignant and heartwarming.
The supporting cast does an excellent job in making the movie very relatable and special mention should be given to Nam's friends and the drama teacher.
It has definitely made a place in my all time favorite movies and I will surely rewatch it multiple times!!
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Truly Remarkable!! The one that started it all!!
The fact that this is my first review says a lot. I have a lot of BL series as my favs but I never went to the extent of writing a review for any. I am writing for this because I know like me there will be many people who will be confused as to whether watch this series or not. Here's why you should :Pros :
I have to say that this series completely exceeded my expectations!! I have been a BL fan since beginning of this year and I have watched almost all the series multiple times...however, I did not ever feel like watching Love Sick or its sequel because it never appealed to me ...first of all it was old and then I thought it would be a normal high school love story and also the 36 episodes didn't help...but having no BL left to watch I thought of giving it a try and boy was I glad that I did coz I was blown away...I finished watching s1 and 2 in 3 days (48 episodes) which says a lot about how addictive it was..this series is sooo much better than a lot of BLs which have come out recently ...the story is quite realistic and very well written and deals with teenage issues and angst, the feelings of first love etc. very well...the scenes between the main couple Phun and Noh are the highlight of this show and are pure gold..Captain and White even though at that time were new actors, have amazing chemistry...not once did any scene between them feel awkward or forced..it really looked like 2 boys who are completely in love with each other...their scenes made me swoon and giggle like a teenage girl and only a very few BL couples have been able to do that to me...Noh's character was very well written and developed throughout the series and Captain as an actor brought a charm which made the character so endearing to everyone!! Apart from the love track, the friendships portrayed in the show are beautiful and the interactions between Noh and his friends are friendship goals!! And the music... both the OST and the background score was one of the best I have heard in BLs..
Cons :
I don't have any major complaints with the series but the parts with Phun and Nohs girlfriends does sometimes become a bit tedious to watch and puts a stop in an otherwise fluent pacing !! Also, other than Yuri and Pang, all other female characters in the show are either straight up evil or annoying...don't get me wrong they are entertaining but they don't add much to the plot. And Boy do I hate Jeed..she gets on my nerves..I don't know whether it was intentional on the writers part to make such an annoying character..the acting sometimes is a bit awkward but then the chemistry makes up for everything!!
Overall : To think that this was practically the first BL to come and paved the path for future...Its indeed come in my top BLs of all time and I will definitely watch it again!! Kudos to LoveSick!!
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underrated has a new definition!!
ok I started the series becoz of all the positive comments I saw here ...the first 2 to 3 eps I was like it's funny but that's it but then from 4th episode onwards the show completely changed it's tone and kept becoming better and better with each episode to the point that the last 5 to 6 episodes were extremely entertaining the show gave equal importance to all 4 couples even though we obviously had one main couple....each couple had really good chemistry and the actors did a fine job .ParkLee were the highlight of the show for me and their scenes made me feel flustered and full of butterflies ....overall I would highly recommend this show and anyone on the fence whether to watch this or not it's definitely worth watching!! A solid 9/10Was this review helpful to you?
