starlit-dramas

I feel like the scenes you're describing were so impactful and important to our understanding of Ji-Won as a character; I think it's already been shown, time and time over, that if she didn't know what was going to happen, she would have already been likely to cave at multiple points. She's not manipulative or cruel like them by nature – in fact, it breaks her heart, and it costs her even now to even stand up for or assert herself in any way – but she has to learn to play by their mind-games for the sake of her own survival. There's such a strong psychological journey unfolding in her character already, and I feel so excited to see what it becomes.

You're not alone in how you feel. It takes a lot to get through, and it takes a lot more still to heal, but in believing that you can break the wheel, you're the one who gives yourself that fighting chance. I have every faith in you. ♡

I feel like this drama's done a really good job at portraying abuse, and especially abuse tied as it ties into self-worth in this drama.

There are so many people (especially women), friends and family, I've known, who have with all their hearts believed they should be tied to somebody who gives them nothing or less, because either "I can fix them!", they believe it's their burden / fate to carry in life – or because they've either been abused, abandoned, neglected (or been the victim of misogyny, or some other bigotry) in their past or present by parents, friends or partners; they have been raised with such a low self esteem, they don't believe they're worth anything better.

I know there are many factors that can be unchangeable in our lives – but there's also so much that we can get when we shift the narratives we tell about our lives. When "I can fix them!" becomes "Where does the time and energy I put into them go?", or "This is my burden / fate." becomes "What opportunities do I have right now?", there is so much more freedom to be had.

The abuse and mistreatment "It was your fault.", "Did I do that?", "Why are you doing this to me?", "How could you think of breaking up with me?", the insults, the financial leverage – are in the same scenes as "I love you.", "You're my other half.", and "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you.". The good times are mixed in with the bad. The actors have had previously lovable, or comedic roles, and even this is played with a comedic note, so even the audience can be lulled in (I've already seen many comments like "I just can't see them as the villain! They looked so adorable. in [x] role!" or "They have such a cute face! I can't hate them.", which ironically mirrors how Ji-Won herself saw them too) – but they're still playing abusers, backstabbers and manipulators, no matter what face they wear. Just like in real life.

I genuinely feel, for this reason, that this story could already be so important. It's vital to be honest about ourselves and our life circumstances while not condemning ourselves to misery, and I feel like that's exactly what this drama is trying to get across from underneath.

Right?? I feel like the writing on this drama's really getting into the psychology of the characters. There's a great surface-level action for those who want to enjoy a fun little revenge plot with romance – but there's a lot there in terms of the deeper life lessons for those who want to see them, so far especially in what it truly means to value yourself, and how a lack of (or gain in) fundamental self-worth can show up in the people we let into our lives, too.

I'm so hooked on this drama. I can't wait until next week. ♡

I really loved this drama; while I found some parts nearer the end were drawn out a little too long for my personal taste, I still found it a beautiful, and incredibly moving piece.

***SPOILER TALK***

Her growth was well concluded, I felt, when she opened up to her mother, and was met with that response. Emotional honesty that went beyond a surface level communication was something I felt like she would have struggled with even without the language barrier, which both improved it (as they were forced to communicate openly on one level) and drastically worsened the emotional scar that was already there. She was so afraid of all of the love going away if she expressed herself, but the truth – and the bravery it took to say it out loud – instead set her free.

His arc was beautifully met at the end, too, I found. For so long hidden away, unconsciously pushing others away to not be a burden, but really hiding himself from the pain of shame, rejection and loss (think of how he responded to the prospect of being in a relationship nearer the start, as well as how he left the first time they met) – he came to her world – he made the first steps, and demonstrated he was going to leave the door open, that he wouldn't be captive to his past anymore, this time through his actions.

***END OF SPOILER TALK***

To any who may be hesitant to watch, I would ignore the comments that of personal opinions like universal fact, and I would highly, highly recommend experiencing this drama for yourself before you make up your mind.

How about we be mindful of the fact that not everybody's going to have the same opinion as you? To me, this good and entertaining drama is easily one of my favourites, if not of all time, then certainly of this year; if I want to rate it as such, that's my choice – as much as it's yours on what you may rate it. If you personally found it mediocre, then that's fine. But this world is (quite thankfully) not just limited to the opinions of one person.

I doubt this one site has as much influence on the Korean entertainment industry as you might claim –the fact that the use time of Disney+ in South Korea apparently increased by 145% while airing, however, I feel might have more of a hand – so I personally have some high hopes they'll be producing more of this kind of "mediocrity".

My dog hated this film. Spent the whole time with his eyes glued to the screen, quivering in my arms (very clearly NOT a zombie fan), but I really loved it!

It's such an emotionally poignant story, amidst all the action – the action sequences were interesting to me because of my emotional attachment to the characters, as well as the fact that (except for military use) guns aren't legal in South Korea, and military training is mandatory for men – which made it plausible why more ordinary civilians would be able to fend off so long against zombies.

I loved the way that "consumerism" / corporate greed and the selfish side to individualism was tied into the theme of the literal consumerist zombies. The way that characters quickly bonded together to survive felt very realistic to me, and the little communities of strangers that formed really made the heart of the story.

An easy 10/10.

I've written more about this in my review; but I really, truly loved this Kdrama. Such brilliant, evocative characters that will be sure to stay with me for a long time, with an incredible set of writing, directing, acting, and musical talent. A rare gory, action-packed story (with some very, very well done action) where neither will be what stands out to me about it.

I remember going into a little more detail at the time I left a review on this, but I still feel like it missed a critical opportunity to do justice to the Webtoon's story as an adaptation. So many elements of it were changed, or swapped out for (in my opinion), a much less interesting and dynamic story – there were certain things that they changed I feel like lessened the relationships that existed between the characters in the Webtoon. They made it into more of a clichéd romance while, I felt, somehow de-emphasising the actual romance that existed at the core of the original story.

I'm grateful for being introduced to it through the drama, and I still stand by the quality of the earlier episodes – but I still feel disappointed months later, when I really, sorely wish I didn't. This was a drama I really wanted to like. 💔

I'm deciding to go by my own personal superhero genre rule of thumb on this one: No body shown? I don't believe they're permanently dead. Body shown? I'm 50% convinced they're not permanently dead.

I think your interpretation sounds right!

I've more or less just caught up, and I'm already deeply, deeply besotted with everything about this drama. I think it's already demonstrated itself as a master-craft in writing, acting and direction – possibly so much more, too. There are so many intricate story threads of intrigue sewn in right from the word go (who could have told me that a purple rooftop could turn out to be so meaningful in retrospect?), that have kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.

I love the love stories, especially – from the romantic ones and all their parallels through the generations, to the ones between parent and child, and the love between friends and partners, too – the significance of an old bullet-wound, or a pair of boots. So many characters in this are already so dear to me.

I can't stop thinking about it, even when I should be thinking of other things – and I'm very, very eagerly anticipating the next episodes.

That's really lovely. Thank you so much.💙

That's a very very sweet thing to say; thank you.💜

You make an interesting point, and I think you might be quite right! I honestly tend to prefer stories that have a lot of character moments; a lot of my favourite scenes are sometimes when two characters are just sitting down together. I think the drama's deeper than a lot of people give it credit for, and I got a good deal of meaning from it too. I very strongly admired how well I thought it stuck to its pro-worker theme, and I felt like it added a lot of heart and dimension to the show.

I couldn't agree more – and I think you've made an interesting point about it not being well-suited binge-watching; I wonder if that plays into the way people have been commenting about it.

Within its genre as a light rom-com, I really do think it was well written, and overall well-executed series (I talked about my love for it more in my own review). But I think some of the comments I've seen reducing stories like this to "garbage", to being made for "fear of failure" – or making up some writers who "could've written something amazing, [...] but don't get a chance" or "a spit in the face of actual hardworking scripts written by AI, as I've seen in the reviews, are severely overestimating how easy it is to create something that's been light, fun and enjoyable like this to many.

To the people saying these things: are you a writer whose works don't get a chance because of stories like this being made? Do you know anybody in your life who is?

Do you know anybody who is making light and fun stories – do you know what kind of difficulties and hardships go into it – or how much the writers might care about these types of stories too, or are you fighting in the name of some imaginary cause because you think it sounds like a good moral position?

Even if you do know somebody, or you yourself also write, and know every pain that can come from writing, know how much work even goes into creating something lighthearted and whimsical like this – don't disrespect the craft of others. Your favourite hardworking and overlooked writers with the works you'd deem imaginative and fresh won't thank you. It's just coldhearted.

That's a really lovely thing to say. Thank you so, so much.♡

I'd forgotten all about that one – but Kim Soo Hyun & Kim Ji Won as the main leads, AND screenwriter Park Ji Eun – where the characters are already married? My gosh. Sign me up already.