the acting, the actors were INCREDIBLE. have always loved nam ji hyun and lee joon hyuk, and it was incredible to see them together in this. the story may not have been the most mysterious and mind blowing, but it was definitely enough to keep you on your toes and make you want to watch more. Lee joon hyuk really did it for me this drama, i loved his character and he did such a good job playing. the last episode broke my heart though! poor hyeong ju deserved better, but i love the drama still. very refreshing, definitely worth rewatching despite the mystery being known. the characters and their chemistry was lovely. i loved it.

lastly, GIVE NAM JI HYUN AND LEE JOON HYUK A ROMCOM, PLS. they were so cute! need more content. loved them sooo much together and the ending really left me itching for more. yikes. they deserve a romcom for all the heartbreak this drama gave me :p but the good kind!

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WOO DOHWAN

the star of the show is easily woo dohwan. only his character was done some level of justice, his acting and his chemistry and bromance with himself is honestly the only thing keeping me through the episodes. everything else is just below par and not enjoyable. i don't know whats happening, and at ep 14 I've given up all hope at understanding the plot/characters/etc. i had so many hopes for this, but the under-done plot and absolute zero development of the characters and overdone romance is just. ew. I was actually jo yeong whenever something romanc-y happened, and this is coming from someone who LOVES romcoms and romances. i wish i knew what went wrong with the script and the plot for it to turn out this way. the romance is too much and too bland, like one second she absolutely hates him and as soon as she finds out hes a king shes suddenly in love with him??? what??? i dont understand the magic of the worlds, or the science of them and no effort has been made to try and make m e understand. we started out solving a mystery, a case but that is lost now?

the characters are so bland. they know nothing about each other and neither do we??? lee gon is justa king with a pasion for math, and a weird obsession with tae eul, and what? the two dimensionality is ridiculous. jang tae eul is just a rude, unlikeable cop and i just ont understand what makes her that great and no one has even tried making her great?? prime minister koo could have been such a powerful, strong female lead but she was only dislikable. not the good kind either.

the only saving grace is jo yeong/jo eun sub. id give my life for these two, absolute cuties.

i absolutely love all the actors, and theyre what made me watch this in the first place. but this was just not it. not worth it at ALL (except ya kno, dohwan. he won)

the good thing about this was the production. a+. beautifully shot and post produced, loved it. the rest however just isnt worth it.

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this has been one of the most amazing dramas i have ever seen. so different from the ones airing right now, with a story that grips you, takes you along a journey and teaches you so much in the short span. the end became unbearable for me as the drama condensed into its few last scenes. the sheer beauty of it left me speechless. the script, the themes of family, love, hardships were so beautifully portrayed in the small span of the show itself and nothing felt incomplete, no loose ends. absolutely beautiful. it may not appeal to all audiences but i believe it deserves a watch from everybody. stunning and amazing.

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a heart warming, funny, light hearted drama about love, food and healing. the actors were brilliant in portraying the mature characters and going through those character arcs. everything from the music to the production, outfits, sets, was chill and cool and very nice to watch. i will miss looking forward to a relaxing 2 days of the week when this drama would make me forget about daily life and just make me feel all good inside. love the plot, script, actors and characters and really everything about it. it was complete on its own and so so soooo fulfilling to watch. a very lowkey, relaxing show during quaruntine. loved it and will dearly miss looking forward to it every week

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a very, very Romantic Sunday in dramaland!

Hometown Cha cha cha is very much like the ost of its - Romantic, so so romantic in all the ways that it could be, and so so refreshing and exciting as a Sunday; makes you enjoy yourself while preparing you for the journey thats about to come.
HCCC talked about love like love deserves to be talked about, the love for ones self, love for smallest things and life, and most importantly love for other people.
The characters were like water; fluid and developing. HyeJin, you may not like her at first and Hong Banjang may be the first to catch your eye, but HyeJin definitely was the one i fell in love with the most. Her strong will had her standing head held high even in the deepest waters, she taught us emotional vulnerability, transparency and honesty is a strength not to be ashamed of. Hong Banjang taught us to hang onto love, even in the darkest times. If not for yourself, then love for other people.
Behind the scenes characters were just as strong and not overshadowed by the main leads, each getting their own stories and character depths. All the people of Gongjin, no matter how broken, come together in this witty little town that lifts up all our spirits.
The acting was impeccable. HyeJin is probably my favourite character Shin MinAh has ever played, just how realistically she captured her development throughout the episodes is truly, truly, amazing. Kim SeonHo, guys, dont get me started on him. I love that man to bits, and here he outdid himself. Layers and layers of expressions and micro-expressions, they made Hong Banjang into the character that we have all come to love. He was amazing.
and so was the rest of the crew, the chemistry was off the charts. esp love the bromance between KSH and Lee SangYi.
The drama had the best love triangle in kdrama history, the best breakup, and the best friendships. Genuinely good portryal of what it truly means to be a good human.
the production, music, setting was all so fresh. i couldnt recognize most of the artists in the OSTs. It included Seungmin's solo debut, which was IMMACULATE might i add. all the songs felt new and refreshing. Romantic Sunday, Here Always and Wind are my favourite osts.
The story is warm, like the sand on the beach, and the slow melting of ice in a jar. It melts you along with it and soon you find yourself a part of it, all warm and cozy inside. I dont think ive ever cried at a confession scene, but i did here. the emotions were all too real and all too there, it was difficult not to be teary eyed.
overall, a beautiful, beautiful slice of life masterpiece that will definitely go down in books. amazing. ill be so sad to let it go and not wait for it every week. will definitely rewatch for all the good vibes <3

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soulful and wholesome, an unconventional slice of life

while i understand the people that found the drama a bit boring as soon as the main couple got together, i think the drama shouldnt have been watched with the lense of it being another Goblin, or My Love From the Star. If anything, the fantasy-esque plot is at best a setting and a backdrop for its slice of life themes and writing. The plot was not about their great love that transcended time and space, noooooooo. It was about loss, and longing and taking one day at a time, looking at the smaller things in life, and loving every moment of being alive. That was, at least for me, the true essence and message of the drama. And for that i gave it a 10/10. They beautifully conveyed the message by the end of the last episode, left me emotional and in a mess of emotions i couldnt place. The cast, the acting is beautiful. The production is excellent, the music i am in love with (esp TXT's love sight, have that on repeat 24/7, oooof).

Other than that, to anyone going in to the drama i suggest you go into it not with the mindset of a grand love story, but that of an ordinary one, one that heals, is wholesome and so healthy. Genuinely made me feel so nice, and I'd watch it a thousand times over (i may be a bit biased cuz of Seo InGuk's beautiful presence, but oh well).

I'd say its definitely a must watch, but not for everyone. To me it was beautiful though, and I loved every second of it.

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Too good to be true

many a drama throughout the year have dabbled into the time travel, fantasy genres and everytime i was left feeling with want for more, every drama felt incomplete. due to some loopholes, general plot ambiguity and many things left unexplained.
kairos is not that drama.
every detail of the plot, of the time and space mechanics and just how the memories and time travel worked in the drama world were so thoroughly explained. the plot was relatively simple, not the likes of Secret Forest or other crime thrillers, but it was definitely gripping enough to keep you on the edge of your seat throughout the ride. the writing was INCREDIBLE, my love for all the characters and just how they were brought together is so much omooo.
the post production and the cinematography. MY GOODNESS, PERFECT. every episode started with KAIROS flashing across the screen and everytime i was in AWE, of just how well done the drama is down to the tinie tiniest details. from the parallels between the two times, the colour grading, the clock, the phone calls, EVERYTHING WAS DONE JUST PERFECTLY. TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE MAN. IT WAS FLAWLESS.

definitely not for someone whos looking for something lighthearted and with romance, KAIROS only gives you the thrills and chills, with some wholesome family feels every so often. not a lot. uff. will definitely keep coming back to this. amazing. so good man. the acting, the cast, literally everything about it was so good.

must watch for my crime thriller fans out there. 2020 has been a legendary year for dramas. too good man. kudos to the writer and the whole production team for topping off this incredible year with something so truly epic. too good to be true.

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so underrated. the writing, the dialogue, the characters had so much depth and we discovered each of their very emotional layers episode by episode, sometimes all at once and it is impeccable. very strong characters and portrayed by even stronger, more amazing actors. no dialogue needed to convey any feelings, they would heart wrenchingly be felt in the gait and stride and gaze of the actors and i cannot applaud them enough. incredible, simply incredible.
the story, although got too monotonous for me at a point, the characters and the complexity of their relationships and emotions got me through it. had tissues next to me the whole time. dohwan, sejoeng did so incredible of amount of praise would be enough. such an incredible drama about what a country means for someone, friendship, trust and love and i am at a loss for words. the actors made it for me, did it for me, i knew they were already amazing but oh God this just threw me off my track. all the actors were incredible but i must say that dohwan really outdid himself and stood out for me, portraying such a complex character with such an intensity i often forgot it was a drama and that this isnt dohwan but soen ho, and oh my GOD. wow. soen ho was possibly my favourite character too, so flawed, broken, lonely, afraid and underappreciated. what a role dohwan played and how excellently. omo. im getting emotionally just thinking about it oh no.
the majestic ost made the scenes even more intense than they already were. you could help but feel the chaos and unease of war and battle, that too against your friend. the pain was felt by the writing, the acting (the most) and the ost combined. oof it tugs at my heart everytime i think about it. so upbeat and moving, but carrying such a sadness.
underrated, chronolically underrated, but a must watch for only those who can endure the sheer sadness of the show. incredible, 15/10 for the feels, visuals and emotions. whos gonna pay for my therapy tho because i wont be getting over this anytime soon.

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definitely unique, unconventional, but problematic

an actually heartfelt, adorable and unconventional drama with unconvential plots, settings and characters. nicely produced with good music and generally such a feel good. its a shame it was laced with controversy and genuinely problematic plot details. however, must applaud the genuinely different approach to story telling and all the unique social issues addressed. would have been a 10/10 for uniqueness, definitely not like the average or traditional kdrama. good acting and portrayal of genuinely unique characters, and lovely production with the cartoon-ic feel to it, much like youre reading a webtoon. actually lovely if not for the controversy and problematic instances. 11/10 for trying something unique.

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This drama is one i wont ever forget. A blissful relief from usual plotlines. the story was beautifully writte, and just as beautifully acted out. Yoo Ah In was perfect as always. Never have i ever seen a story so beautifully written about friendships, and fighting for what you believe in. Impeccably carried out with A+ cinemtatography and my gosh, a beautiful OST that i cant ever forget. The story left me not knowing what to do with my life anymore. Ive seen so many shows, but none has clicked with me as much as CT. Kept me on the edge of my seat and brought me to tears with its intense dialogues and themes of sacrifice, love and friendship. a perfect blend of fantasy, history and romance. a definite must watch. brilliant.

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not bad, but definitely could have been better!

**edit at the bottom after finishing the whole drama; TLDR: haein is amazing, ending lacked very much and hence points degraded from a previous 10/10 to an 8.5**

loved the first 4 episodes a lot, they showed excellent potential for the story and the characters for the future. haein is an incredible actor and you can tell that from the very first scene, and although jisoo has her weaknesses, not bad for a first drama. the romance and the love story that snowdrop has been marketed for was beautiful, sweet, sad and melancholic, however i felt it took a backseat after the first four episodes. i understand that this was their attempt at exploring character dynamics and a painfully slowburn plot, however, i feel like when the screen wasnt on the two of them the love story wasnt there anymore. the plot itself is weak, and slow paced. slow paced plots are excellent if done well, however the weak plot made the episodes a bit monotonous and predictable. the chemistry of the characters and the 80s timeline, that whole potential felt wasted to a point, and i wish they could have done more with that.

people may disagree, saying they dont think the leads should end up together as the ML took wayy too much advantage of the fl, however, i think even though his redemption is in process and hes not quite there yet, he is very much redeemable and i dont hold anything against the fl for forgiving him. heck, mans trying his best, ill give him that. but the slow path to redemption, i personally enjoy. it gave his character realistic depth, he didnt turn a switch and went from god to bad, but is going through the slow process of unlearning learnt behaviours and asking for forgiveness. he is far from it, at this point in the story (epi 13) but hes getting there.

i think to better understand my review for SD, one can compare it with vagabond. vagabond sets the potential for this drama, SD had the potential to be fully action packed in a historical setting with a painfully slow burn romance that could be felt in every scene, whether the characters were there or not. however, i also wont be too critical of SD considering the mass havoc the knetz made in its production, the poor thing was ridden with unprecedented controversies that it very much did not deserve and i can understand and see the diligence with which the plot was written, so as not to offend any party while still making it enjoyable to the public. its a difficult thing, and i cut them some slack. the writers could have done better, but i understand their situation. its still a pretty good effort, and props to them to pull it off despite the controversies the knetz surrounded it by!

genuinely, despite all its flaws and loopholes, all in all, my fangirl heart enjoyed the drama thoroughly. the visuals, the music, the production was very nice. the ost was beautiful, sad, portrayed the characters angst and yearning really well. also im such a sucker for haein, i have to admit his character was more fleshed out by him and the nuances he portrayed rather than what the plot gave him. props to him as an actor, thoroughly enjoyed his performance. im also a sucker for not good not bad, morally grey male leads finding their way in a complicated world, so i genuinely enjoyed this. give this man more roles like these, he can definitely pull them off.

all in all, imperfect, but beautiful and enjoyable.

**EDIT** after finishing the series...
i was very seriously overlooking the flaws and loopholes of this drama in hopes for a fulfilling ending. i feel like the whole thing was pivoted to its ending, it really depended on how cleanly and beautifully they wrapped up the lose threads they oh so beautifully opened in the first 4 episodes, but alas. that wasnt the case, i dont mind tragic ends but this was just poorly done. no matter how much i think i cant excuse it.

all in all, i still loved it, but for much different reasons now: my guy Jung HaeIn carried the show on his beautiful, beautiful back. plotholes aside, i think JHI did an incredible job as SooHo and he deserves all the credit for this. Jisoo did well for her first project as well but my guy HaeIn really stole the show. watch if you want amazing acting on his end, truly incredible. Yoo InNa too in the end. wow.

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would have been a 10/10 had it not been the ending. i just dont like the idea of him committing suicide. otherwise the drama is gold, han tae joos development, the anthology like progression of the show with a well done over arching plot, the drama was incredible. however, i did hope the entire thing would have been less open ended and i could have been given a better explanation for what happened during the show. i like open endedness to a degree, but i thought this drama could have done well with a more clear end. i dont like the implications that he jumped off the building to die, but thats just me. otherwise, this drama was a sure 10/10 for me till ep 15. incredible in every way possible.

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