great K-drama mystery drama with original theme

Intense gripping, superb drama in the best traditions of K-drama： keeps you guessing from each dramatic episode cliffhanger to the next： Han So Fun、 brilliantly played by Moon Geun Young (have not heard of her before)、 is like a fierce terrier dog who will not let go in her quest for the truth until the end。 there were so many different strands to this drama and the family relationships were so complex it was really difficult to keep up with them all as well as the two big stories of Han So Yoon's sister Hye Jin and the serial killer story, apart from all the sub-plots and character development、 and I wondered how they would all be sewn together at the end but this was done superbly〜 my only slight disappointment was the uncertainty regarding the fate of the super-obnoxious Seo Chang Gwon, very well played by Jung Sung Mo and how the "chairman” came to be there at the end I assume Park Woo Jae with his "detective instinct"、again brilliantly realised character played by Yook Sung Jae、intervened。It is good to see him develop so well as an actor in a lead role from his support part in Goblin although the fresh bright character type is the same。Choi Jae Woong must also be mentioned for his portrayal of the "Young Lady" Kang Pil Sum. however I can not think of a character who was not good in this drama.

From earlier review as I watched:
not exactly the beginning I was expecting 〜the heroine seems pretty neurotic but if I discovered a corpse I suppose I would be too(๑⃙⃘°̧̧̧ㅿ°̧̧̧๑⃙⃘) meanwhile it's the usual bubbling cauldron of K-drama mystery including ruthless local businessman・politician、 alienated wife、rookie junior policeman providing the light relief、spooky village gossips and weirdos、obnoxious school students and teachers、 casual romance 〜riveting so far plenty to hook me into seeing how it develops though at 16 episodes I wonder if it can retain interest？yes it is keeping me waiting for the next episode seems to be classic mystery K-drama〜I decided to try this because of yook sung jae and as expected I like his character best！

yes, it obviously did keep my interest www〜and was one of the few dramas I finished in very short time two episodes at a time sidelining other dramas I am watching could not recommend too highly〜 will look out for this writer and actors
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　╭( ･ㅂ･)و ̑̑ ˂ᵒ͜͡ᵏᵎ⁾✩

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Heartwarming romantic drama

Lovely heartwarming drama set in beautiful hotel and surroundings with eccentric quirky characters and nice stories： any romantic like me will like this〜after first few episodes about revival of the hotel there mainly very good episodes on individual themes which worked quite well and enough variety to maintain interest but I think it was the characters and their development which provided the main interest 〜〜where is this hotel I would really like to stay there I must reserach！theme music by American singer only thing I don't like but give 5 for other waltz music〜

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fantastic in every way！！

rollercoaster of bizarre mix of tragic and comic but charming〜 only K-drama seems able to capture this mix of comic and tragic, light and serious in each episode。as it goes on it goes far from original idea of going into dreams with all kinds of scenarios crossing between afterlife and life and the back stories of main characters and their soul relations that adds interest〜what a fantastic finale:I had to watch last two episodes together and really did not see all that coming and I am happy with the ending〜and unlike some K-drama this was very well-judged length not too drawn out to lose the tension and fascination with the drama 〜I thought I saw Yook Sung Jae's cute face before and of course it was in Goblin！look forward to more by these lead actors *(*´∀｀*)☆

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absorbing TV drama

テレビミステリードラマ：content of this drama shocking and depressing in many ways 〜！but very good drama。 I struggled to know the main focus in the start as it kept flashing back and forward between youth and adult but the puzzle fit in the end〜 to summarise I think it was good when setting the background and characters in the first few episodes and builds up tension very well in last episodes but it was spun out rather too much and became slow in the middle maybe to fit 10 episode serial format〜 every character here was conflicted so the drama was as much about character as plot maybe like Greek drama each producing his/her struggle〜bitter-sweet ending。still well worth watching but as I know the plot not a drama I will rewatch I think〜

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brilliant surreal school drama

凄いだよ〜a school story with total violence breaking out in first episode but manages to be funny with it〜 incredible mixture but it mainly works, but although always serious issues are introduced some of the resolutions are weak。 school drama like this I think would never be allowed as school drama in 2021〜I do not agree this is at all typical of Japanese school drama now。 Nakai and Matsumoto are surreal anti-heroes in an education system ruined by political correctness。the ending is also surreal with the actors observing themselves from outside and therefore in context very clever。classic〜definitely re-watchable.

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heartwarming

well finally finally reached the end of this marathon and happy the right guy won！！I really really liked you in comedy mode though sometimes the sad parts became very overpowering to work through。not to say I was not affected deeply by some of the stories to the point of tears ｡･ﾟヾ(✦థ ｪ థ)ﾉ｡ﾟ･｡this drama was very good initially with more comic emphasis〜 or at least better balance between light and serious sides〜and took off in the final 5 or 6 episodes with good dramatic action and unexpected twists and turns that had me watching 3 episodes straight、however for me it became very, very slow mid way and bogged down and the balance between comedy and serious drama veered far too much to the serious side to the point of depression! I almost gave up at ep 22! for me 24 episodes max would have made this a better dramaーmaybe they wanted to spin out a popular program？so I can not give it straight ten but still very good drama if you like them long〜〜　 if you like Lee Min Ki in this you will maybe like him also in 「evasive inquiry agency」

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dark madness

unremittingly dark and depressing 〜my final perception of this film is that what starts as a scenario just barely plausible as real presents through increasingly destructive imagery a metaphorical descent into madness reflected in the surreal final twists。as film it was well done with the lighting and camera work conveying the dark and claustrophobic atmosphere (？the enclosed space of the mind within which it takes place) I can not give it top score because though I recognise its merit at an intellectual level for me this film is devoid of anything uplifting： why do we（or maybe better why do we have to）produce such films？

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follow the wormhole

one of those dramas that I wanted to watch an episode every day、but not all at once、 so as to draw out the enjoyment。 very suspenseful and with good tempo and movement between different strands of the story so no time to get bored〜however this was not a true sci-fi time travel drama more the idea of circular lives。 some aspects I dislike： the huge change in atmosphere between the next to last and final episodes I found strange and the ending is clever and intriguing but not totally satisfactory because it does not fit convincingly with the pretty definite ending to the previous episode； the relationship between ML and FLー I did not like his treatment of her or her taking it： I guess it is meant to be funny but for me verges on SM and falls flat： luckily for most of the drama the romance theme was in the background so did not affect the overall enjoyment I suppose they must have love interest to keep the audience ratings。still a very good drama〜 when K drama gets it right it is really good。

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gleams of light wipe away the clouds

I decided to watch this to see how Miura handles a serious drama。initially I found it hard to understand or believe his character seducing a girl・ but even after the story became clearer I still found his character difficult to figure outーactually I found all the characters and their actions difficult to figure out! I guess I could see the Japanese social norms more than non-Japanese but even so really old fashioned〜 my main criticism is I found the ”martyr” feature in all the main characters was overdone 〜felt like shaking Miura sometimes

finally however I think I see how all this has been woven into a heart-warming story： I guess the story is love means loving someone for who they are even if part of who he/she is also means having a caring heart for othersー maybe not so original but story constructed very well （with my one criticism above） and well played。 Miura was a great actor and the female leads were also sensitively played by Toda and Takei。

this is a heavy drama but with wonderful gleams of brightness to light the way and stay with you〜 it may be hard for some to follow and some may find it sentimental rather than uplifting but it is worth sticking to it。

worst thing for me is truly bad and intrusive English incidental music about talking to the presidentー maybe intends to be uplifting but for me it was like a headache every time there is a tender moment （the theme and some other OST was OK）。

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OK but confusing and difficult to sustain interest

my first impression of this drama is first two episodes very unpleasant〜 even when you get the back story so can understand more the students I still find it swings between very unpleasant and hopelessly sentimental。the sensei: this woman should play a saint。for me it was difficult to warm to any of the characters。 I had this on hold quite long before trying to finish it〜 it did gain momentum again but confusingly in last episodes moved focus to one character's story [admittedly lead character in early episodes] but with the effect it seemed like two separate dramas in some respects。I feel this is a drama that tries hard to get over a message and develop characters but goes in different directions and does not know what message or messages it stands for、except we have another great sensei dying for her kids that is totally not of this world、 while the characters do not really develop but just change overnight from very unreasonable to reasonable to fit in with where it is in the fixed number of episodes。 in summary nothing great but ok so a generous ーas always for me ー 7/10

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dysfunctional

Finishing this drama I think it divided into two with first 5 to 6 episodes about the relationship of sensei/student between Gu Qing Pei and Yuan Yang but which does not really work because for me the violence is too unrealistic to the point I nearly dropped this：no one would accept that treatment and carry on the connection whatever the money or business reward〜then it starts to become more interesting as the two different characters work together to get results from around episodes 6〜 then after only about two episodes big disappointment because it was as though it totally lost that bromance or gay plot line and became mainly a business and family contact drama with Gu Qing Pei and Yuan Yang relationship in background and so twisted around I did not know what it was supposed to be。 I enjoyed the story andit kept me wanting to know what happened next and I binge watched last episodes but I do not think the two halves fitted together that well and so the drama as a whole lost direction and as for the relationship theme it was like premature ejaculation〜 it never happened in more ways than one。 quite good acting and drama flow（it sometimes gets slow or disjointed with Chinese drama I feel）。Production values only average but actors made the best of what they were given　music very good 　Overall enjoyable watch

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not comedy as expected

I was surprised by this movie。 I expected a light-hearted comedy but it was really a serious look at the problems gay people have in being ’’out’’ and living together and being accepted by parents in a very conservative Chinese society。I was very surprised the Chinese censors would allow movies that deal with this topic although sexual contact between the partners was not at all explicitー then I saw this was actually a Taiwanese movie so it gave a false impression attitudes in China could be changed。obviously that remains untrue、 so it was rather misleading in that way。 as to the movie itself、 I did not think the acting or direction was very good unfortunately。 for me the actors were rather unconvincing in their roles and the acting was wooden。 the production values were low。 however it must be praised for being very brave in tackling a serious topic。it is just a pity that this is gives a very false impression that attitudes are being or can be changed in China〜 it is more like the Taiwanese or western world hope China will change its attitude to homosexuality but there is very little evidence of this in real life、 although it is not illegal as such and there was a long history of same sex relationships in China before attitudes changed in Twentieth Century. unfortunately the same thing happened in Japan after introduction of western attitudes in Nineteenth Century、although now it is improving。 the attitudes here and in China have just try to ignore reality。

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