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xXabsintheXx
독일 ~ Where the waves gush against your windows
- Robert Louis Stevenson
“You take people, you put them on a journey, you give them peril, you find out who they really are.”
- Joss Whedon
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If I were to describe this drama with one word, it would be:
Misleading - complex - secretive - slowly seething - engraving
Yeah, okay. Those were not only one word but five. But as difficult as it is to categorize each character in this story, it's also impossible to find only one word or one saying that would cover every beautiful aspect about this whole show.
Hwang Shi Mok, a prosecutor who lacks the ability to feel any emotion since a surgery in his childhood, and Han Yeo Jin, a police lieutenant, team up to fight corruption in the prosecutor's office. That pretty much describes it all and the summary above is also very accurate about the key points.
-- Misleading --
I admit that I was a little skeptical and hesitant before I started this drama. Prosecutors and corruption. Not again... But my worries were groundless. Even though this drama is indeed about those things, the whole set-up differs alot from your usual k-drama structure. Sometimes and especially in the beginning you might think that many things are predictable. But you will soon be disabused. You'll learn that every scene, every move and every obvious incident has always two maybe even three faces to them. You can never be sure about what you see right in front of you.
-- Complex --
The characters in this story are as cunning and sly as the story around them. There is not one person you can be certain about and only the finale will reveal everyone's true nature. Only at the far end you'll see the whole picture. So, be aware of the fact that you have to pay a lot of attention.
-- Secretive --
Imagine each one of these people as trees with many branches - long and short ones, thick and thin ones which symbolize their every wish, desire, greed, ambition and so much more. Everyone hides in the shadows. Some of them stand in a light grey, others in far darker places. But it doesn't automatically make them bad people. And I loved that the drama conveyed that as well.
-- Slowly seething --
The story flow might seem a little dragging here and there but you shouldn't forget that this a drama that focuses much on the corruption in the prosecutor's office and never loses its way. It's "slowly seething", as I was describing it in the beginning.
-- Engraving --
The music is subtle and so well set that you are left with deep impressions every time an episode ends - even though the narrative flow might seem slow-paced. And let me tell you that this drama has one of the most captivating final episodes I've seen so far.
-- Forest of Secrets --
Never was drama title more accurate.
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“If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each man's life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility.”
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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At some point I was worried, they would create too many "convenient circumstances", but they held back, so that it worked most of the time. There was a strictly woven net and they didn't lose time with telling the main story, yet they managed to put some 'monsters of the week' in-between. That kept the tension high. The way they built it, helped making it look plausible overall. I had some smaller issues with some things, but nothing can be perfect, right?
The finale... woah, actually surprised me. When it started, it felt a bit sobering because there wasn't much tension in the "hunt". Who would have thought, that the actual thing slowly crawled to the surface only in the last minutes. Guess, I was too hasty.
I really liked the writing of the main villain. First of all the actor. He just got 'that face', you know? It's made for those kind of roles (if the acting is right). But I also liked that they put some depth into it, so that it felt more palpable. That way it didn't even bother me, that they revealed the identity early on.
Lee Jin Wook made quite a good figure and didn't let down till the end. I enjoyed his character more than I thought (I wasn't fond of the actor before). Of course, there's a dark dusty past that tries to stay hidden, yet gets dragged to the surface. But LJW displayed it so well, that I grew to like his character a lot. A somewhat worthy successor of Jang Hyuk.
As for Kang Kwon Joo... I think she's a complicated character to approach. That was already the case in the first season and didn't change here. She's got this calm shyness all the time and never really breaks out, which frustrated me sometimes.
So, now that it's over, I guess, I really need to start season 3.
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What I loved the most was the development between Ha Seon and Haksan which led to that special overwhelming moment later. I also found Ha Seon's character development well written and shown. If you watch the first episode again and right after one of the last ones, you can see the difference as if it was night and day. Same goes for Haksan's character. I appreciated that they weren't all white or black but had dark secrets and grey zones with difficult decisions to make while walking their paths.
What I don't like in other sageuks but really love here is that they actually let a good king overrule petitions of its court people. You usually only see the bad kings do that while the good ones can't seem to go against their ministers. But here was actually a quite nice balance created.
I also enjoyed the queen's scenes and I'm so happy that Lee Se Young finally got a good main role. She was great in her role, but I also have to admit that you can still see that she's a young actress who doesn't have the range of expressions like her seniors yet. Especially in the later episodes I found some of her dialogues a bit... wooden. Sorry to say that. I still loved her scenes with Yeo Jin Goo though and I'm sure she will become better in the future.
The antagonists were an interesting bunch of people and it was refreshing that not all of them worked together but also were suspicious of each other, too. But as I said in some other post, sometimes the constant anxiety due to their intrigues were a bit too much. Even though it keeps you on edge, I think they overdid it other times, too. Excitement is welcomed, but only to a certain degree.
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It actually starts quite interesting. A bunch of rebels plan to free their leader from prison and kill the king who doesn't have the right to be on the throne in their eyes. And only one prison guard is strong enough to oppose them.
The biggest problem of the movie is its lack of explanation. Even though there's some information given in the beginning, it still fails to bond with the audience because the characters are not introduced enough. Some pretty stereotype figures who all seem to come from an action adventure game. And the build-up is not that far away either. You have your superhero who has to fight his way through a bunch of enemies who get stronger by the person. He gets tired pretty early on and suffers one wound after another but he still manages to beat the strongest opponents. What I missed here was an excuse for his identity that would explain at least a bit of his outstanding strength.
Martial arts are really good, and I can't complain about them one bit. But the story was lacking and almost every character was not introduced enough to either sympathize with or despise them. The most disappointed character for me was the king who had a short appearance where he looked rather crazy than goodhearted.
It's also such a shame that the lack in the character writing didn't give the cast an opportunity to make their figures shine. There was so much potential. And in the end, the only one who remained likable in my eyes was our superhero.
Recommended with reservation. Only if you're very deep into the cast and a fan of martial arts.
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The start was strong and promising, the writing kinda daring considering the content of these prosecuted cases. The outcome was not always clear and you had your unexpected moments, even though some possible conclusions might have become more visible along the way and allowed the viewer to guess just right.
I loved the first half alot. And I mean ALOT.
Most of all because I had so much fun watching the female lead Ma Yi Deum. Her character is one of the best written and most authentic ones in dramaland. Believe me when I say that I was almost scared how much I recognized myself in her. Even though we didn't experience the same things, there were still so many situations when I just had to nod and agree in awe - because she always reacted and acted the same way I would have done in those moments. Scary indeed, right?
But at the same time I was fascinated with her and I was happy that the writers were brave enough to write such a grey zone leading role. She's not been categorized like that because she did some seriously bad things but more because she did and does some minor but still morally debatable things. If you look into the mirror and ask yourself whether you ever did something that was selfish, calculated and manipulating, even though it's not even worth mentioning (because deep down you actually don't want to admit it), then say hello to your sister: Ma Yi Deum. A tough girl who has decided to face the world with spite and sarcasm. Never letting herself be taken down by any obstacle she comes across. Even though she seems like she's hiding her feelings, she doesn't get depressed whenever she accidentally gives her emotions full scope, but instead covers up her slip of feelings in grand style. So yeah, I love her. From head to toe, from character to convenient (and occasionally striking) styling to ambiguous first impression.
The rest of the cast did well, too, even though non of them could compare to Jung Ryeo Won (Ma Yi Deum) who out-shined them all. And even though I want to mention Yoon Hyun Min because I like, love and fancy over him all the way, I just can't. I loved him in the first half but his character lost stage presence during the rest of the story (although some lovely glimpses still shined through sometimes and especially at the end~)
The same applies for the plot. I was hooked by the cases, they were shocking and the way the drama delivered them made me curious enough to binge watch the first six/seven episodes. But as the story went further, the cases lost substance, became repetitive and sadly let inconsistencies sneak in. The pace dropped down from 100 to 50 and it never picked up again. Even the finale felt kinda flat and unimpressive.
I feel truly sorry for the drama because it started off so damn well, and I wish the writers would have been able to keep that intimate but threatening atmosphere that caught me in the beginning. So much potential and so many missed possibilities.
But I did like the OST from beginning to end! It has something unique and memorable.
P.S: Would I recommend it? Yes. Depending on the mood and the tolerance of predicable and repetitive content. And for the eye candy and averagely good acting (including one shining star).
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I was very hesitant about this drama in the beginning. The colors were so bright, the title cheesy. I was afraid I would suffer through a soupy and exaggerated melodrama with lots of shortsighted intrigues and superficial characters (what I experienced with My Sassy Girl). The only thing that pushed me into this was Im Shi Wan's dashing historical look in the promotionals. And even though I was still unsure while watching the first episode... when a young man's voice began to tell the story of a frightened little boy, born into a world where he had to face fears and prejudices, hopeful expectations flared up.
It is hard to put my feelings for this show into words. If I were to describe what kind of drama this is, I would say that it depicts the story of the Crown Prince and his struggle to become a man worthy to reign over his country. Im Shi Wan is an incredible actor. I have seen many historical dramas, but his interpretation of a Crown Prince and his performance were a pleasure to watch and a gem among so many others. I was absorbed in his acting, his happiness, fears and his inner and outer battles. Constantly between trying to protect the ones close to him whilst falling short on accomplishing his own desires and dreams over and over again... To see him never giving up and always trying to get the best out of every situation, he became the only character I deeply cared about. And I had the urge to give him a hug more than once. Behind that imposing royal demeanor he upheld at all times, only tiny facial expressions revealed the stinging pain he was feeling inside during constant encounters that tried to marginalize him and drive him to his knees. I was overwhelmed by his endurance and felt his hurt every time he did.
The rest of the cast did a relatively good job as well, even though most of them never reached Im Shi Wan's level. But every single one had at least one thread I could connect to. The script gave them more than just one layer and when it mattered I was able to either hate or like the king, the queen, the second male and female leads or the side characters. Maybe the only one I was never too fond of till the end was the big bad wolf. But half the fault lies within the writers who tried to give him more depth during the last episodes but instead went a little over the top.
I enjoyed the love triangle, which I usually don't do in dramas. I think what I liked the most about it was that the female lead was never solely responsible for the two male leads' actions. It just either pushed or slowed down the inevitable development all of them had to confront at some point anyway. And even though bromance was endearing, it was always meant to meet a poignant fate, with or without the additional love interest.
While the first half of the drama started slow, lighthearted and sometimes even funny, it built up its climax with subtle steps, and it never failed to gradually increase the ultimate danger. It led its characters to life-changing decisions while it forced them to grow up too fast while facing the consequences of their actions. Somewhere during the second half I was worried the writers might chicken out of the path they created for their characters. But they did not - for the most part. The final aftermath might have felt a little less sever than what it could have been, but it was still satisfying. I have no idea how others felt about the ending, but I really liked it. Somewhere along the way I realized that it would be one of the most reasonable finishes and my hunch eventually proved to be true.
The King Loves is definitely one of the better sageuks out there, so don't hesitate to start this. It is a pleasant, moving but also tear-jerking drama that will stay in your memory for a very long time.
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The idea itself was actually quite interesting and the first two to four episodes were strong. Even their first case made me quite excited. But after that the story became somewhat watery.
The idea of their dreams were inconsistent. Whatever the writer thought about it, she didn't think it through and therefore created some screaming plot-holes. The majority of the story rippled from episode to episode and never reached a real climax, even though some court scenes were entertaining.
I think the main leads were the biggest problem of the drama. Their acting felt kinda flat and didn't reach me. Sometimes Suzy's gaze even ruined some touching moments and made them less enjoyable. There was not much variety in her expressions and therefore felt very bland. I also don't like the way she is crying. It seemed way too forced. And what I missed the most was that she didn't made the role her own, something that would make her character memorable was missing altogether. I could have done without her scenes.
Lee Jong Suk was not at his best either. I really liked him in his other dramas but here... Whenever he smiled, it looked like some commercial input. I don't know why, maybe the way his character was written? I mean there was not even any similarity to his child version. Because it's still fresh I had to compare it to Money Flower and Jang Hyuk and his younger self were 10 times better than this here. Although I have to add that LJS got better in the last couple episodes. It reminded me a bit of Pinocchio what I loved. (And I will probably always love his eyebrows but that doesn't contribute to his acting, lol)
I admit that both of them had some funny scenes together, too, but those few didn't make up for everything else that failed to reach me while their cheesiness sometimes hit the border to "awful/cringe-worthy". Their childhood counterparts on the other hand need to be mentioned because they delivered their part perfectly.
What I really enjoyed in this drama were the sidekicks. Every single one of them were just lovable and every actor/actress contributed to the liveliness of the story. It was fun to watch their scenes, the comedy was well put in my eyes and their dynamics were well balanced. The prosecutor team, the news channel team, Woo Tak's partner in the police force and also Hong Joo's mom. She was great.
I also enjoyed both (or all three?) second male leads way more than Lee Jong Suk. Gawd, they pulled the story forward. If it weren't for them, this could have become one tiring journey. Whether it was Woo Tak, that cute police officer who totally won me over with his charm and his performance, or Jae Chan's little brother who was just as cute in his behavior. I loved his love story as well as his scenes with his brother. The third person to mention here would be Lee Sang Yeob. His performance was probably the best of them all, even his character was the best written one - and what was well transformed by the actor. His development throughout the drama was palpable and made the most sense to me.
The guest roles of each case... Even though not all of them (I didn't like the teacher), I think that most of them did a really good job with their short time given.
The ending was... Well, without telling too much, I was happy that they went the way I was hoping for because otherwise it would have concluded quite disappointing and as flat as the leads' acting. There was also an unnecessary event the drama could have done without, but I guess they wanted to "close the circle". On the other hand the last trial had some nice unexpected turns. The dialogues and some clever word twists entertained me quite a lot. And I also have to add that I was very happy about the fact that the drama didn't feature any corruption. Thumbs up, because that trope is so worn out, imo.
I did like some of the songs, but I didn't like all of it. There was too much happy go lucky theme for me.
Would I recommend it? Hard to tell... If you're a hardcore Lee Jong Suk fan, probably. If you can put up with a lot of plot holes or don't judge flaws too hard, probably. If you don't expect too much, probably. This is just one of those action-crime/comedy/romance dramas that pop up out of the ground like mushrooms. It doesn't hold any specialty or uniqueness.
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"Baaaka..."
This J-dorama was very... ~shojo. I don't know if this is based on a manga or not, but I've read alot of them and this concept is exactly like that. So, whatever tropes you have in mind, it will happen. All of them.It's been awhile since I last saw that kind of a happy-go-lucky FL. She's overly confident with her love interest and expresses that shamelessly. She doesn't care that everyone knows, she's happily grinning whenever someone talks about it. The whole staff is even encouraging her - though indeed in an earnest way and without any ulterior motives. (If I had a crush on a colleague and everyone openly knew about it, I would hide in my locker for a year or something.). She's also clumsy and drifts off to lalaland during work. If I had to work with her, she would be my worst nightmare >.<
>>> This represents the whole absurdity of the drama - plus the non-existing hierarchy between nurses and doctors (I don't mean showing off who the boss is but maintaining certain boundaries).
NEVERTHELESS... this was still a very entertaining watch and a guilty pleasure-watch done right.
Pros:
1) The characters were enjoyable. They were overall good-natured people, and even though one or two made a dick move at some point, they held it low-key.
2) The medical stuff. I'm a medical assistant, so I'm extra strict on these things. I won't vouch for everything, esp. not for the cardiological cases, but most of the simple medical tasks were done quite right.
3) The FL somehow managed to grow on me. At first she gave off a child's vibe but as the story went on, it gradually improved. She got better at her work and she also became somewhat (pheromone-induced) beautiful. You know what they say, love makes you beautiful.
4) Skinship!
This is something (as far as I can compare) J-doramas are partially better at than K-dramas. When there's a hug, they huuug, when there's a kiss, it IS a kiss. No dead-fish peck, no lip-caressing, no tongue-digging. Just a normal kiss. When they want to brush the other one's hair, they don't hold back as if it's some super fragile glass-carpaccio or something. They simply caress that damn head. They don't futilely try to put a single strand of hair behind the other one's ear, that eventually falls back onto the cheek anyway.
5) No overdone slow-motion.
6) Some things felt a lot more natural than in K-dramas. First of all, I think that Dr. Tengo Kairi (Sato Takeru) was the most authentic character in this. His behavior never felt exaggerated and I synced with his annoyance every single time. Furthermore the vibe that a couple radiates after a certain time. The shyness disappears and gets replaced with cocky confidence. That's what you want to see in a drama.
7) There's Sato Takeru. Period.
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Then when you're halfway finished with it, the waiter suddenly takes your meal away and puts the most common dessert in front of you. You know it, you've eaten it so many times and you like it because it's delicious but you just don't want to eat something sweet now. You want your spicy, juicy steak back. But that won't happen. And that leaves two options: Swallow the pill or cancel the rest of your meal. If you do decide to continue eating, be aware that at the very end you might bite on a forgotten nail or something. It sounds disgusting, I know. But don't say I didn't warn you.
One of the worst things that can happen to a drama is mixing up genres the wrong way. You always have one main genre and only glimpses of other ones. It's important to stay true to your roots and never let any side genre take over. Because if that happens, it will ruin the mood like nothing else, especially if they allow the most common plot holes to occur along the way. The story becomes sloppy and all over the place and you just feel like being on a very bad trip. One part of you feels angry and frustrated, the other one feels pity for the impressive first half of the drama that got you so damn invested in the story.
I know that I sound very negative right now and many might wonder why I still gave such a (relatively) high rating considering everything that went wrong. Well, as I said before, those first 9 episodes were almost brilliant. And I would recommend them without a second thought. After that it feels like a sharp clean cut and everyone has to decide for themselves if they are willing to watch the messed up rest. I finished this drama because I was curious about that ending everyone was complaining about. Well... it was indeed something I would have never imagined. It's not explosively unexpected, it's more like the tip of the iceberg after a chaotic and way too long aftermath.
I gave this drama a 8 because there were many things I really, really liked. First of all of course those first 9 episodes that take you on a thrilling journey full of surprises and "what the hell"-moments.
Then those 9 survivors. Believe me when I say that the actors were doing a great job with their characters, most of all Jung Kyung Ho who I avoided for a long time. I didn't even like his role in this at first. He was pissing me off and I never expected to grow fond of him. But I did. He became my most favorite character, along with Baek Jin Hee's role. Those two had amazing chemistry till the very end, and regarding every relationship I've seen in dramas until now, they have become one of my dearest. I loved how they became fond of each other, how they supported each other. I loved their warmth as well as their teasing, and I loved how they encouraged and gained strength through each other. But most of all I loved how Seo Joon Oh (Jung Kyung Ho) became a better person through Ra Bong Hee (Baek Jin Hee).
The music is playing an important role in this drama as well because it literally takes you away. It sets the right mood when the show drifts to the island and focuses on every single person, their endurance, their personal development and different realizations while facing extreme hardships. After listening to it again, it reminds me of Hayao Miyazaki's movies. There is something dreamy about it within the instrumental pieces.
Sometimes their time on the island didn't seem to take itself serious and the group looked like they were on a picnic trip or something. But those scenes never lasted too long, the anxiousness remained and unfolded in no time afterwards again.
After those incredible 9 episodes you get thrown into your typical k-drama world filled with clichés and plot holes and an unexpected overwhelming comedy that makes the drama look like it doesn't take itself serious any more. While confronted with corruption from all sides (one of my most hated tropes in dramas), they behave like they got all the time in the world, calmly chit-chatting at home and meeting up in public as if there's no danger closing in at all - but the villains don't seem as clever either. Not to mention the ridiculous ending that will only hit you during the last five minutes.
Don't get me wrong, I loved most of the subtle comedy parts as well, if I look at them individually. But in combination with the first half of Missing 9, it felt off and ruined the initial expectations I (and probably many others) had. The mix between mystery and later corruption/comedy didn't go well in my eyes.
A few things that remained the same (thank god) were Joon Oh's and Bong Hee's special relationship, me growing fonder of them every time they appeared on screen and those genuine talks between two characters, filled with meaningful closeness and honesty. Contrary to everything that went wrong and could have made me drop the drama, those few consistent things were strong enough to keep me at bay and complete the drama. I've seen way worse than this. What makes this drama such a disappointment is the brusque change in the script that started off great in the beginning and remains brilliant in its core.
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So, while deciding on a horror movie it all depends on what you expect of that one you eventually chose. I knew what I was expecting but I still got disappointed. Why? Because it was like getting a tooth pick after expecting a tree - or at least a wood stick. Means, the purpose was delivered but way too short. The film starts, you get into the mood of being scared and suddenly it's already over. That was how I felt.
I did like the way they pulled off those scary scenes with faces suddenly popping up... or people... or other things... Also, my rating for the music part doesn't mean they had great songs or whatever. It just shows that the background music was creepy and well put at the right (shocking) moments. There were also some really ugly (and I mean pretty scary) scenes that almost made me cover my eyes with my hands (but maybe I got too sensible for that stuff?).
The acting was solid, nothing special but most times convincing.
Ohhhh, but the special effects! Well, CGI really looked like CGI and made the movie look like a mix of animation and real live action. I was very disappointed with that.
So, what can I say... If you're looking for a movie to get your party guests into the mood or just for scary fun watching, you definitely got the right film. But be aware! It's a really short ride...
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The plot is nothing new and it reminds a bit of The Rite (with Anthony Hopkins), not so much of the original Exorcism though. Most of the story is pretty calm, it takes its time to introduce the characters through flashbacks which works pretty well in my eyes. But it still doesn't waste time as the story proceeds at the same time to slowly build up the suspense. And when you reach the climax, you'll also get your jump-scares and some bloody byproducts.
The movie works well because the camera and editing did a good job and because the cast was great. They gave life to their characters, and made them convincing and palpable. I can't tell much about Kim Yoon Seok or Kang Dong Won because I haven't seen either much with them or anything at all. If I did, it's been so long that I can't remember. But they were splendid. I do know Park So Dam and I also know that she's a great rising actress. She didn't let me down here either and her performance of a quite peculiar figure was excellent.
So, for me an enjoyable ride and a nice presentation of a Christian exorcism in a modern Korea. Of course, still kinda predictable but it's always interesting to see how far and in which directions the movie makers go with the exorcism elements. If you expect something scary and want to hide behind your sofa every few seconds, don't watch this. But if you're fan of the cast and don't mind calmer horror films that focus a bit more on the characters' relations, then be welcome and go ahead.
(But I have to advise you to find good subs, because those are essential to bond with the characters and make you invested in them)
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I knew that this drama would come with lots of heart wrecking moments. Moments that moved me so often because the story did an excellent groundwork of its characters. There were so many facettes of each of them, you unknowingly start to root for everyone, even though some of them might have started out with your disliking. Although... No, actually not. I never really disliked anyone who didn't deserve it. It's exciting to see everyone's story develop, to see where their decisions lead them. They are like branches, pointed towards different paths, and yet grew from the same tree. And in the end the wind blows them in the same direction.
I never felt that the story would move forward too slow because each scene was important to me. Like enjoying a good wine. Every tiny moment sucks you in and doesn't let go. And with all the historical background it was exciting and refreshing to hear at least 3 (sometimes even 4) different languages throughout the whole drama. Though I can't judge the Japanese parts, the English ones sounded pretty good to me.
This is not a drama that blends you with a stunning cinematography, pretty costumes and a nice setting, just to cover up a lacking story. This drama does have all these things AND a convincing and fullfilling plot which makes it a gem in this massive pool of dramas.
It's a story about friendship, loyalty, bravery, love and sacrifice. And it would be a shame to miss out on it.
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I've watched a bunch of rom-coms lately. I remember that I enjoyed Her Private Life and Touch Your Heart a lot but neither of them got a 10 from me. There was always something lacking which made me not want to give them the highest score.
But this one surprised me in any way possible. I enjoyed this so much that I run through the episodes in no time. I'm quite sad that it's already over. I could watch 10 hours and more and wouldn't get bored with these characters. And I'm not only talking about the leads. Everyone in this was great. Every character had some kind of purpose and never felt expandable.
I loved the romance and how it progressed. I appreciate that the story took its time until the leads finally got together. I'm also grateful that I didn't get 4 last episodes full of happily ever after. The writer(s) balanced the time for telling the story just right. Nothing felt rushed or too short. And the end was wrapped up nicely.
There was no irritating love triangle which made me love the second leads even more. I would have hated it, had they turned it into something else, because the way everything developed was what gave the story the extra juice. Not that the leads didn't already deliver fantastically themselves. Those two had such a unique way of connecting that their encounters never felt boring. Do Min Ik (btw, Dominik? Anyone?) was your usual conglomerate boss but at the same time he was as dorky as his secretary which made them just the perfect combo. The more you got to know him, the more you fell for him, not just his secretary. He earned my respect when he realized that he loved his secretary and didn't deny it while completely ignoring the difference in their social status.
Funny thing, I ever liked the fake Veronica Park. Maybe because it was fake, maybe because I knew nothing good would come from that one, maybe because I never felt the spark during those ~dates. I never even liked the glamorous styling. Whereas the real Veronica Park was an eye-catcher. Her behavior, her styling, her whole appearance. As exaggerated as she might have been, the actress owned the role and made her character one of the most memorable ones in this drama.
Coming along with that, I was so, so glad that Gal Hee kept her dorky style till the end. I'm thankful that they kept her curly hair, her glasses, just everything. Usually at some point the lead changes her style and keeps it that way, but it wouldn't have been the same if they did that with secretary Jeong, too. She was perfect the way she first appeared in the story and stayed that way till the end.
The side characters, ohh, the other secretaries! Their humor was just right. I can't remember many funny scenes, but the few that took place, where hilarious but never too over the top. In the beginning I thought they would become some stereotype evil co-workers but they turned out to be really lovely colleagues.
There are so many people to mention. Veronica Park's mother. Gosh, she looked like some hippie mom that never got over the 70's, mixed with the attitude of a rich Korean mother.
Gal Hee's siblings. Her sister was bold and cheeky, and the way she ended up with the flamingo of the story, was something I didn't know I needed to see. Her blind brother was another interesting character, who brimmed over with confidence despite his disability and due to that had some funny scenes himself. It also showed that you can walk such a road and still not being disrespectful towards those who really suffer from blindness.
Do Min Ik's doctor was another noteworthy guy. He looked like your usual quack but got himself some funny treats that made him edgier and not just some medic. Which reminds me... The problem Do Min Ik has... As someone who is working in the medical field, I got extra curious. The way it was described in the drama it sounded as if one part of his brain wasn't provided with blood anymore. Which actually means that brain cells die. And we all know that brain cells don't regenerate. But then the drama mentioned improving the blood flow in that region and making it work again. Well, I have my doubts here, as logical as it might sound. Then again, miracles can happen. And this is a k-drama, so miracles are highly likely.
What I didn't expect was the darker storyline in between. Surprised me quite good and got me hooked with the sudden seriousness. It added it nice small mystery to the plot (and of course was the kick that got the ball running in the first place). It didn't overshadow the romance part, it kept to the sidelines in the middle but it was never forgotten, there was always a glimpse of it in between, which was totally fine with me, and got more attention at the end again. And if you might have thought you already figured it out in the early episodes, the final answer would still surprise you. The hints they dropped here and there misled more than once.
So, overall, the romance started off innocently, developed seriously and ended maturely. The story also gained some extra points with some new treats which I haven't seen like that before. A highly enjoyable drama that convinced me in any way possible.
P.S. Yes, I loved every character. Except one: Do Min Ik's stepmother.
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I think the most scary things in this world are folklore and what it does with people's mind. It makes your imagination run wild and puts thoughts in your head which lead to decisions, you never thought you would be able to put into action. It manipulates even the most righteous person. Even scarier when it comes to villages where superstition is still grounded quite deeply, because it twists the mind of more than just one person. And it makes them act out of fear and anger while they don't even bother thinking about it first. And at this point they won't budge either because they are too afraid to be wrong.
I delayed watching this for some time now, even though many people recommended it. But it's running so long and I never felt like being in the right mood for it.
But now I know that even if you're not in the right mood, you will be soon, because its atmosphere is sucking you in right away. It's oppressive and even though the story is moving calmly, there's always this ominous feeling in the air that doesn't let go of you.
This is so different from all the dramas and it was such a nice change. It follows a neat string, throwing one breadcrumb at a time while creating this net of... I don't even know how to describe it... It builds its own world with its subtle suspense that is lurking at every corner.
There are no boring moments, even though it never gets hectic or anything. There are not even those surprise moments that make you jump out of your seat. Still, it keeps you on the edge and guessing till the end. Even now I'm not completely sure about all the details, although it still feels like I got the whole picture.
The cast was amazing, every single one! Special kudos to the kiddo here. She was damn awesome. And again so different from dramas. No matter what was shown, it never got cringy. This is where you can differentiate the two categories with one look.
At some point it might get a bit gory though it's just a short moment that still fits into the whole setting. It's not excessive, it's not unrealistic. So, if you're weak to those things, be aware, even though those scenes are rare and don't occupy most of the film. They are like small stepping stones in the later minutes to reach the finale.
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It sounds cliché but when I worked at a restaurant I met so many bosses who had married their secretaries that it felt actually quite strange. But it's a matter of fact and the funniest things happen in real life, right? So, it was even more enjoyable to watch. Also, it's been a while since I last watched a pure romance drama, so it was even more relaxing to marathon this one.
Park Min Young's and Park Seo Joon's scenes were well balanced and had really good dynamics. There was perfect timing in their facial expressions and small gestures/reactions were well tuned. It's hard to describe, but I hope you'll know what I'm talking about when you watch it yourselves.
What I especially liked in the beginning was that perfect teamwork between the both of them. It showed so well, how important it is to have a competent, supportive co-worker next to you when it comes to managing such scales. It's a bit sad that they showed less of that team-play as the drama went on. What I also liked was the transition from the newbie to that perfect secretary.
PSJ's acting performance was satisfying, as expected. The narcissistic treats of his character were well shown, even though they surfaced less often in the later episodes, which is a bit sad, imo.
I'm not a fan of kitsch, so... let's just say that the drama could have done perfectly fine without it. I don't even know how SK came up with this kind of image of a relationship in the first place, when they started to produce rom-coms in the past.
I adored all the side-characters. Lee Young Joon's parents were great. Hilariously great. Also, Kim Mi So's sisters (fresh faces who make me want to see them more often in dramas) and of course her dad, lol. And in that sense the surprise cameo. Won't say more though!
Special shout-out to the child actors. So, so cute but also so impressively well done when you think about those scenes they had to play.
And then there's Kang Ki Young. You can't help but enjoy all his roles. He has this comedic talent to make a scene look serious, yet funny without overdoing it.
Overall a well done rom-com with a few points of criticism. The acting is really good, the office life relatively close to reality (sometimes). Only the last few episodes became a bit dragging about two issues and some things were just "too much". It doesn't diminish the overall enjoyment, and with the adding of someone's hidden past you even get some suspense on the side-lines. Enjoyment level alone: 8.5.
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