Reviews

The perfect example for the super-hyped drama turned meh

I don't even know if I liked this drama or not. Because if something has potential but it isn't good, the dissapointment is greater. It had potential but for a number of reasons it wasn't so good.

Actually, the story was really interesting. Different dimensions with a whole system and how they suppose to work, modern royalty (though I would prefer not to be so westernized), the mystery and crime part. But at the same time it was too complicated with no reason at all. But the script and the direction used all these for just a complicated background for the romance which, let's be honest, didn't even made sense. Too forced, without proper character development and completely no chemistry between Lee Min Ho and Kim Go Eun (and I mean at all, I saw an interview and even their real-life interactions look awkward).

Generally, I don't like Lee Min Ho, I haven't found some role he was ok. But he truly doesn't fit Yi Gon. It is a mix of a bad written character (too perfect, no character development, the same from start to end) and an actor I don't think is something more than a pretty face (questionable). Everyone also was decent in their roles (and most of them had 2 roles with completely different characters).

Besides all these, I actually enjoyed the drama. The villain was ok and with a super detailed plan (I believed they would never find him and hoped it). And, of course, one more drama to prove that Woo Do Hwan can be anyone and do anything (one of the very few people I enjoyed to watch). I think he is amazing in everything he does and this drama is no exception. He portrays two COMPLETELY different characters with great tallent. Also, I loved Head Court Lady Noh (Kim Young Ok). She was the only logical person there.

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fluffy, mature hotel romance

*there will be spoilers*

SOOOOOOO CUTE. The characters are so well written, and we got to know the side characters really well too.

Main leads are so handsome/beautiful. Literal fantasy pairing. THEY HAVE SUCH GOOD CHEMISTRY. They even had dating rumors from their history TT. Well, the story itself is not very realistic, but their relationship was so healthy. There were up’s and down’s but they had great communication. No unnecessary misunderstands. Probably because they’re adults, but their romance was very mature and fitting of their age. And the ending was just PERFECT. Sa rang becomes the girl boss she is, and Gu Won is making a dream franchise. Obviously, running a business isn’t ass butterflies and rainbows because you need funds, but it’s nice to see an ideal one in the drama.

Side stories:
Personally, I’m not a fan of the one friend who has a kid and is married. I’m sorry, I’m so bad with names. She’s such a strong person, so why does she have such a trashy husband :(. I know divorce is hard and everything, but she definitely deserves better. Hopefully, he improves!

I actually really like Pyeong-hwa. I remember her from Love to Hate You, and her gum smile is so cute. Her romance with Ro-un is also adorable. I keep thinking of Rowoon everything I see him because his name and face are kinda similar. I don’t really get why being divorced has anything to do with her job (?) but alright.

Gu Hwara. At the beginning, I actually quite liked her. She just had an inferiority complex. It was only after all her tricks with Won that I realised how much of an inferiority complex she had ?. And her child is literally an angel, loved him. I literally cried when she didn’t send him to US. ? character development ?

Overall, it’s a really nice and relaxing watch. Off the charts chemistry and amazing comedic moments. Definitely worth a watch!

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No faltaron las risas... ni los besos ?

•Ep 10: innecesario.

•Trama simple, que pudo resolverse fácil sin alargarse a tantos episodios, algunas partes pueden parecer relleno, con unos 13 episodios hubiera estado bien.

•Protagonistas carismáticos y con excelente química.

•Siempre hubo comunicación entre los protas, eso le suma un punto!

•Personajes secundarios buenos.
-El asistente de Go won, donde esté este gran actor, nunca faltarán las risas! 10/10

-Las amigas de Sa Rang, son simplemente geniales, quiero tener amigas con ellas!

-El esposo de Da eul la amiga de SaRang, es insufrible)

-La pareja secundaria Pyung Hwa y Ro woon los asistentes de vuelo 10/10 (Lo de la mamá de él, quedé ??

•Me gustó que la antagonista lograra superar sus rencores y siguiera con su vida, cuidando al hijo.

•PERO EL EPÍLOGO ??? ROMPIERON LA 4TA PARED, NO ME LO ESPERABA!!! EXCELENTE, ME GUSTÓ ESE TOQUE!..

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Squid Game?? More Like Death Games

Squid Game was truly something else. I expected a bunch of games, but did I expect everything that happened during and after the games? No, definitely not. This obviously needs a season 2 since the ending was kind of crappy. Don't get me wrong, the beginning and the show in general was excellent. However, I wish the ending was a little more developed.

Seong Gi Hoon was an interesting character. He was naïve of a sort, even though he was been through a lot. Even after what happened at the end, he continued to live his life the way it was before. Cho Sang Woo honestly did not deserve to last so long in the games. This man was dangerous and we couldn't even detect it. Kang Sae Byeok was the best character, hands down. She faced everything head-on which is something I want to do whenever I'm in the middle of a situation. Hwang Jun Ho was pretty irrelevant in my opinion because his purpose was to only find his brother who went missing. The hot thing about him was that he always used the words of someone whenever he was "violated". There's no closure about him, which I wish did happen. Hopefully in season 2, we'll get closure about him. Ali was too innocent in this drama. All he wanted was money for his wife and kid, poor guy couldn't even get anything, but he left his family a good amount. Oh Il Nam...I don't know, I have a confusing view about him. He treated the guys so nice, but at the end what he explained was messed up. Ji Yeong was also badass, her ending is undeserved, she deserved a second chance.

There's a bunch of other characters I would have reviewed, but meh it's whatever lol

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WOW!

The show was AMAZING! the way I was crying for characters I have only known them for 1-4 episodes is just crazy cause this is the first time it has happened to me. The way they have developed the characters even if we don't know that much about their background other than gi-hun but honestly, they never tell us anything like why he debt or any other information, so it's crazy how i started crying, this also just proves how the acting is just amazing and i loved the cast and they fit so well with the roles and the chemistry with each other was amazing too! Also, i was so happy seeing a south asian character because it's not very common to see them and even if you do see them they are small roles no main characters so I WAS VERY VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT me being an indian myself. The music was also so good, the song matched the vibe so well such as when they played happy songs in bad situations it really matched well with the children's game theme or the pink soldiers song gave such an eerie vibe but i kept wanting to listen to the song even though it kinda freaked me out a little. Lastly, i loved the story so much but if I'm going to be honest, the story was pretty basic but it was still so addicting and i binged the whole show in one sitting so i still TOTALLY RECCOMED WATCHING!

i love this show so much and I'm SO HAPPY FOR THE SHOW AND THE ACTORS FOR ALL THE INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION THIS SHOW IS GETTING AND OTHER KDRAMAS SUDDENLY GETTING AFTER SQUID GAME... LIKE THE STORIES ARE SO GOOD THEY DESERVE IT!! YAYYYY!!

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Medical Drama That's Not Really Medical

When you read the title and the characters, you would get the impression that it would be a medical drama. But to me, this drama doesn't feel like a medical drama at all.
Yes, 90% of the scenes were in hospital. Yes, there were doctors and patients. Yes, they used many medical terms. Yes, there were diseases, illness, deaths. However, the main focus was not medical matter. Maybe because it was slice of life type of drama.
What I like about the drama? All of them.
Acting wise. The actors and actresses did really well to deliver their characters perfectly. They are perfect match for their own characters. The chemistry and relationship between characters are so great. The dialogues and banters between them were so great and felt natural.
Plot wise. The main focus was for the main roles' life stories, of course. But, the other stories were so great too.. Each of the patients' cases was so on point and unique. They complimented the main roles' characters and main stories.. Even though some of them were not really interesting (I skipped some of them when I re-watched it), but the other ones were so great and touching.
Soundtrack wise. You can say that this is kind of a musical drama somehow. Of course, the title already said it all. They have the best soundtracks. I'm so impressed with the casts because they worked really hard to play the musical instruments and sing the songs. They learned them diligently, and some of them learned them from zero. Even though the songs are old songs, I like almost all of them. It wouldn't be surprising when they win the best soundtrack of the year.
Plot twist. This drama broke clichés in drama history. First, while other dramas are about struggling to gain power, this drama was about giving away power. Second, there were many unexpected plot twists about the characters. When you thought that "ah, it would be the case" and the next thing you knew it was actually the opposite of it. Some of them are funny and some of them are heartfelt. Really unexpected but somehow satisfying.
Love lines. Every main roles deserves their own story lines. Hopefully, every one of them will have a happy ending and happy relationship in Season 2.
In conclusion, this drama is not a medical drama. (To me, the best medical drama is still Dr. Romantic, and yes, both of them have Yoo Yeon Seok as the lead, lol). But, this is one of the best drama ever for me. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me feel. Even though there were so many substories, it didn't feel boring to me.
This drama deserves every award they got, the hypes, the high ratings, the compliments and of course, Season 2. Personnally, I can't wait for Season 2. Hopefully, it will be as great as the first season.

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NO BL ELEMENT. ONLY BROMANCE. NOT AS GOOD AS MOST REVIEW SAYS.

So I came across this drama while I was searching for historical BL/ bromance adapted from BL original work drama. Most of the Chinese dramas are adapted into bromance but while watching it we feel the intense chemistry and love between the MLs and THIS DRAMA HAS A LOT OF POSITIVE REVIEWS. SO, I DECIDED TO GIVE IT A WATCH.
INITIALLY, IT WAS REALLY FUNNY. ITS A STORY ABOUT 2 LONG LOST BIOLOGICAL BROTHERS WHO ARE NOW IN ENEMY CLANS. AND THE ELDER ONE IS IN SEARCH OF THE YOUNGER ONE. AFTER THEY MEET, THERE WAS A GOOD BROMANCE BETWEEN THE TWO BUT SINCE THEY ARE BIOLOGICAL BROTHERS, WE CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE IT TO HAVE SOME BL ELEMENTS. But from the time Ji Chuan realises that Zhao might be his real younger brother, to the time he confirms and finally tells his brother felt like it was really dragging on. It got boring with a cliche plot. Ofcourse it doesn't make sense but even if we keep logic aside, some interesting things should have been added. But there was none. I felt like dropping the drama but I already downloaded it so I watched it for the sake of my data consumed. I WATCHED IT IN 1.75X SPEED. THE ENDING WAS FINE THOUGH. OVERALL IT WAS OKAY CONSIDERING THE 2 MLs were really CUTE. But, there's nothing special about the story.

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MAKE UP YOUR OWN MIND: Don't let those who judge Dramatic FICTION..

..by their individual morals make your choices for you. Dramas are all works of fiction that are meant to be dramatic.

- [ ] We suspend our disbelief every time we watch a series with impossible storylines, cliched tropes and unrealistic romances.
- [ ] We overlook some of the more egregious plots because the MC are good looking and the chemistry between them is palatable.
- [ ] We will slog through episodes that are nothing more than recycled scenes under the guise of flashbacks just for those moments that make us tense with anticipation, laugh out loud, and our hearts flutter.
- [ ] We ignore narrative devices such as the plot armor that protects protagonists from certain death over and over because we like the character.
- [ ] We suspend our disbelief at yet another 2nd Lead who stalks the Lead , laying claim and demanding reciprocation of a one-sided love based on the fact that they grew up together.
- [ ] We happily pretend that silly interns enter into glamorous marriage contracts with rich CEOs in the 20th century and it ends up in life long love.
- [ ] We snicker at the thought of a cold landing you in the hospital.
- [ ] We play along with grown adults pretending to be 30 year old virgins.
- [ ] We shake our heads at the notion of wearing tiny jean shorts, a blazer, sneakers and hair in pig-tails is completely acceptable in a corporate office.
- [ ] We roll our eyes when females trip on air only to have the male catch them and spin a full 360 circle in the middle of the street.

Yet when any gray area, no matter ridiculously over-the-top it is presented, causes some offense great or small to some viewers, suddenly the fiction in the drama becomes real. The fantasy bubble is popped for them and now they must pop it for everyone else who still understands that it is still just fiction. It is like watching a cartoon and freaking out when dogs start speaking. "Dogs can't talk!" but it was fine when the hero flew the spaceship?

The dark and unexpected ploy twist here caught me off guard, and it was a very f*uck@d up thing to do, no argument there. But it is still fiction, it didn't really happen. It was a twist designed to stoke moral outrage, as most are crafted to do. This one just happened to be a little darker, but importantly original and unexpected. They got us!
They caught us while we were pacified in a fugue of romance stereotypes. You may not agree with how they got you,
but they did, and as long as you keep it within the confines of the dramatic fantasy, enjoy the ride.
Scream, holler, cry, clutch your pearls and wag your judgmental finger at the CHARACTER within the confines of the in the DRAMA! Rather, try to appreciate the fact that it made you think and feel some type of way in a way you never have before, and rejoice that you got more than you bargained for. How often can you say that these days?

Please don't take the magic of storytelling away from others because it doesn't follow your moral playbook.
That's not fair. Every time a few create an unnecessary moral frenzy over a fictional story, more and more productions are afraid to take chances on fresh and original material. Then we all have to suffer endless, boring repetitions of 'safe' and predictable series, books, films, all of which are art, and art is not supposed to be 'safe' and predictable.

The reviews for the Chinese series’ Well Intended Love, Circle of Love, and the Taiwanese series, Before We Get Married, has suffered unfairly at the hands of armchair, self-appointed moralists who have ceased thinking for themselves, but want to think for you, don't let them. Protect Asian Media, Protect Art! We need to encourage writers, directors and actors to continue to create original takes on familiar themes even if you don't agree with them. I think we can all agree that the Nazis are reprehensible, but the movie Schindler's List resplendent. I am morally opposed to war, all wars, and I adore The English Patient. I don't agree with adult females acting like school girls, it affects my moral feminism, but I will never dismiss a series for it, I will suspend my disbelief because that is part of the viewing contract. The dynamic and exciting relationship between the ‘observed’ and the ‘observer’ is one to cherish, not admonish.

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This drama is cute, light, funny, sweet and everything you need in your hectic life.

STORY: No devil incarnate mother in law. No stupid female lead. No unnecessary melodramatic scenes. No prolonged misunderstanding. Can it be any better? Go figure!

Well, the online game theme is a big bonus to avid MMORPG players like me. The colorful costumes, amazing graphics and nerdy gaming terms brought back the memories of my old self playing online games while I slept, ate and studied on front my computer. I must say that the whole production nailed it!

Acting/Cast: I will set aside the fact that Yang Yang is a total eyecandy and will give an honest and fair review. Overall, everyone gave a decent performance but what bothers me is the expressions of the female actors (minor roles included) which are a little too animated for my liking. More often than not, I am distracted by their too animated expressions or big movements. MY personal favorite though are Hao Mei and KO (and their budding bromance). The three thinkers or whatever you call them are super funny that I always find myself on the floor laughing out loud.

Music: Love the music! I've been humming this unconsciously for several days :D


Rewatch Value: After a week I still feel the same about this drama.The feels have not worn off yet despite teh dramas I have watched after this. So yes, I am going to rewatch those cheesy lovely romance scenes.

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While high on my “Ryoko Kobayashi” fan mode after her terrific performance in the supernatural revenge thriller MAOU, I found she’d starred in a similarly spooky Twilight-Zone styled movie called ZOO in one of its five stories. That sounded interesting, and, happily enough, I was able to acquire a nice subtitled version!

Well, in the end, Ryoko’s story (a tale about a set of twins, both played by her) ended up being so-so, and I’m sad to say that statement rang true for most of the other segments, too. In fact out of the five, I only really liked a couple of them- the story SEVEN ROOMS starring Yui ichikawa as an abducted girl in a mysterious holding cell, and segment Four which, in direct contrast to the other tales, was a short clip that was completely animated...It was this story that TOTALLY MADE THE MOVIE FOR ME!

This chapter was called HIDAMARI NO SHI, a story written and animated by Mizusaki Junpei and featuring perfect voice acting by Suzuki Kasumi and Suwaru Ryu. Hidamari No Shi tells a tale of a Scientist and his Robot Girl creation in a futuristic world not so different from our own...

The great charm of this clip is the pacing. As the girl goes about her daily life, the viewer is allowed to look about and take in the scenery along with her, examining what she is examining, reacting as she reacts. Every action is deliberate and precise, every sentence of dialog meaningful and heartfelt, and as I’ve stated before, the voice talent is just awesome, fully fleshing out the animated characters onscreen and making the girl seem real and believable.

The story of HIDAMARI NO SHI is ultimately a philosophical one, for though the girl’s days are spent doing chores like laundry, tending the garden and fetching the water, there are also rabbits and butterflies in her life to observe and chase, sunrises and sunsets to experience, and the quiet, beautiful sound of wind-chimes as they tinkle in the breeze. Yes, he’s created her to cook and to clean, but beneath it all is the lesson he wants her to learn most, and that is the joy and gratitude of simply being alive.

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No doubt, this show further proves that Lee Jong Hyun and Gong Seung Yeon's chemistry is really MAGICAL! Although JH has been thought to be better off as an idol and a musician/singer than an actor, his acting opposite someone he truly/obviously adores in real life, apparently helped in overcoming his awkwardness as an actor. The lovely SY has been showing steady progress and strong skills in acting since she debuted, so she pulled off the spoiled, potty-mouthed, top-star and lovable character! Haha! She was able to balance off that sexy and elegant vis-a-vis serious and funny Soojung whom charismatic Ondal and narcissistic Gen. Ko Ilyong would fall for. Joo-hyung Park's skilled portrayal of the narcissistic villain is spot on, and truly hilarious, which makes the show more enjoyable to watch. Lee Jaejin's Samyong is also memorable and endearing; Didn't know Jaejin could act so well! Bravo to all the actors!

Many scenes appeared to be referenced from JH and SY's stint in We Got Married, which worked nonetheless, especially since this drama undoubtedly has a built-in fan-base; And many would be more than satisfied to see the long-awaited onscreen reunion that comes with bonus intimate scenes between the two main leads. Since this show is a web-drama and expects foreign viewership, the usually censored lines/actions and kissing scenes in Korean TV dramas were done away with. Those kissing scenes, by the way, were done confidently with passion and intensity. It was indeed a great move to cast JH and SY to be the leads in this drama!

There was some trouble with continuity of scenes and the storyline. The show also obviously lacked budget/the luster of the usual cast-of-a-thousand-extras/actors saeguk dramas; But when you are too busy swooning over the visuals and sweetness of the 2 main characters, all is glossed over with the taste of honey that overflows from every interaction of Soojong and Ondal. The director and production team did a good job anyhow, with the resources made available for them. The script obviously invested more on the main leads and it worked just fine.

If only for the contagious sweetness of the 2 main leads/characters, together with the magic that they create together that lights up the screen, this drama is quite a RECHARGING experience that is worth to be rewatched over and over. A Season 2 would be even better!

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