tingkagol
Do not recommend to newcomers to kdrama
I normally don't like writing bad reviews of shows I don't enjoy. But I felt compelled with this drama.First, the good: Park Bo Young is enjoyable to watch as the petite and unassuming Bong Soon as she navigates social circles while hiding her superhuman strength, yearning for a normal life, and a love that remains unrequited for the longest time. She's jaded of her superpower and feels like an outcast even in her own family.
That said, this drama has to be one of the worst shows I've ever watched and I feel so sorry for everyone involved especially the actors who I think did their best to elevate this drama from the heaping pile of shit it wants to stay in.
This drama asks A LOT from its viewers. it wants you to forgive its poor visual effects, it wants you to laugh at its forced slapstick humor, it wants you to forgive it for beating around the bush too much. But the weakest part of this drama is the terrible pacing- it's all over the place. One minute you're following the crime mystery, and once you're invested, it pulls you out back to a 15 minute scene at the hospital where the injured gang stooges gather to try to make you laugh with poop jokes, or a long protracted homophobic scene where the 2 MLs caress each other in Bong Soon's head. Also, practically any time the gang boss or his thin henchman or his doppelganger is on screen, it's complete filler / padding and they're not even funny (well, the metal chopstick bracelet scene was actually funny). Several times I've felt like this drama was just wasting my time while I'm waiting for the story to progress. Certain scenes feel way too stretched and I felt they could've just cut more in the editing room to improve the pacing.
Overall, this is the quintessential Kdrama stereotype most non viewers think when someone mentions "kdrama" to them which is a shame since kdrama has so much more to offer. If someone you know wants to get into kdrama but is hesitant, avoid recommending this at all costs.
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This review may contain spoilers
This drama is very entertaining but it fails to solve its core plot and execute it on screen
This drama is very entertaining but it fails to solve its core plot and execute it on screen. This drama was clearly written around its Joseon-era arc: a fine tale of a murder mystery about the princess. The crown prince then gets sent 300 years into the future and slowly realizes the same events happening again between two warring reincarnated sisters. While it executes the Joseon storyline in spades, it failed miserably to mimic it in the modern-era arc.The villains are so horribly written. They're too lucky too, getting numerous opportunities to foil each and every plan of the protagonists. The protagonists are also mumbling idiots who are too trusting and get duped by the villains time and time again. You will wince and groan by the choices the villains and protagonists make during pivotal moments in the modern-era arc that by the time episode 17 comes around it reaches fever-pitch and becomes an unintentional comedy. I found myself laughing and shaking my head in disappointment numerous times at otherwise very intense, serious moments from episode 17 onwards. By episode 19 I was so ready to grade this drama a 5. I would've graded it lower if not for the first few episodes where I genuinely had a few laughs from its fish-out-water antics.
But then episode 20 came and it single-handedly redeemed the show to a degree. The episode literally pulled this drama up from the pile of shit it wanted to stay in. It was clear to me then that the writers wrote the Joseon-era arc first- which was finely constructed- but then had the problem of bringing the same similar events to the modern-era arc. And what they came up with was an utter mess. Episode 20 alone is worth the watch but it was too little too late.
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So much screaming and unresolved arcs but still a good time
There are just three downsides to this drama that could probably turn off some people. Otherwise, it was a pretty entertaining drama.One, there's lots of screaming from the ML. Like a ridiculous amount and even in scenes where it is not necessary. He is a character written specifically to scream in every scene. And also to smack his lips and play with his tongue every time he's onscreen.
Two, there are story arcs that are quickly abandoned and forgotten. There's one where the restaurant is struggling to make ends meet with the kitchen in disarray, but after a few episodes despite kitchen continuing to be a mess the problem goes away with no closure. There's also an arc about the chef banning pickles and some other items in the menu from the restaurant but after a few episodes, he's okay reinstating the items to the menu with no explanation.
Three, the FL is really charming but is one big masochist taking all the verbal abuse from the chef and falls in love with him despite being treated like crap.
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As for the performances were good but one of the reasons why I even began thinking about writing a review here was because I especially gravitated towards Shin Hye Sun's portrayal of Lee Yeon Seo, the distressed, handicapped but eternally grumpy ballerina who has all the power but living through a world that clearly no longer wants her - including her extended family. I first saw Shin Hye Sun as Woo Seo Ri in Thirty But Seventeen and already noticed her undeniable charisma, but she was EXCEPTIONALLY MESMERIZING as Lee Yeon Seo. She literally carried the whole series and stole every scene she's in.
On the other hand, L as Kim Dan felt like he was playing a side character for the 1st half of the series - almost as if his sole purpose was for comic relief. His was almost child-like next to Hye Sun's performance, but he did show some promise in the later episodes. He also looked a lot younger than Hye Sun, so that didn't help to establish him as the male lead next to Hye Sun's stoic and electrifying Lee Yeon Seo.
If you hate the fantasy plot or any other aspect, I'd still recommend this drama solely for Hye Sun's performance. She will hypnotize you. She will make you mad. She will make you sympathetic. And she will make you an overnight fan. After this, she has become my #1 Korean actress when it comes to acting chops and now I'm eagerly anticipating her next project.
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Overrated. Teeny-bopper bubblegum comedy
This... is so overrated. At the moment, I couldn't get past ep 10. First, there's the trio of scrawny guys everyone in school seem to fawn over. I didn't believe even once ANYONE would fall for these papier-mache built doofuses. Then there's the wasted potential of Dan Oh. The producers could've taken her cynicism to great comedic heights, but instead she falls into the same tropes she's mocking the "stage" characters over in the first place. People have been saying this show was hilarious - good for them. It wasn't funny for me at all. It was excruciating to watch and I kept holding out to see if it gets better but ultimately decided to just stop. Maybe I'll finish this later but I'll have to watch in small doses.Was this review helpful to you?
