This review may contain spoilers
Three Is Not Always Better Than Two
When it was announced Penthouse would have 2 more seasons, I was extremely excited since I loved the drama. Even though I stopped watching lots of western tv shows due to the drag with multiple seasons, I was happy for Penthouse to get more seasons... but now I don't think that was the best idea.I don't want to spoil this season, but it's so hard to state how I truly feel without doing so, so major spoilers will be towards the end with possible small spoilers throughout my review.
Story:
With season 2 ending, I was extremely excited with season 3... but then that excitement turned into frustration. Slowly I realized that season 3 was erasing things that season 2 brought. For example, they all get arrested in the final episode of season 2, but then in the first episode of season 3, they are all roaming free. Why would you make them all arrested only for them to freely get out? I don't need this drama to make full-on sense- I mean, the way they got out just doesn't anyway, but I'm fine with that- but I don't understand what was the point of getting them arrested at the end of season 2 if it means nothing? I can't believe I didn't even worry when that happened. Of course, there are other problems, some I skipped over so, I don't even want to mention them, but the last thing I will mention is that it feels like more things happened in this season than the last 2. I think season 2 should've had 3 more episodes and wrap up the whole drama then since Season 3 added some things that I feel could've been left out. But regardless, I still enjoyed how hectic it was since that's Penthouse's signature style; over the top dramatic!
Characters:
One thing that I will always agree with between all 3 seasons is the acting was off the charts. Every actor did a fantastic job with the material given to them. Now, for the characters in general... Joo Dan Tae was the same crazy man who wanted revenge, and Cheon Seo Jin... I'll mention that in my spoil segment. I enjoyed the other characters and their "character development," except Joo Seok Kyung. I thought that she was finally getting that well-needed character development at the end of season 2, but the beginning of season 3 just erased that and made her a straight-up villain. I'm glad she was able to come to her senses at the end, even if it took shocking news for that to happen. I liked Ro Na this season and thought she was one of the best characters in this whole drama, including Shim Su Ryeon and Joo Seok Hoon. As I said in my previous reviews, no other actors can portray these characters, and I stand by that after this season.
Others:
I still think SBS should've had Penthouse air on Friday and Saturdays instead of just Fridays. I understand, in a way, why they would make it air once a week. The suspense kills, and it looks like SBS thought that season 3 will be their biggest and most successful, but they were wrong. The few OST's we got were good, but just like the last 2 seasons, I wish we got more.
Now, for my spoil segment:
I don't mind when the main character dies, but only if it makes sense with the plot. Oh Yoon Hee dying just makes 0 sense, and for it being Cheon Seo Jin? In season 1, sure, Cheon Seo Jin would push her off the edge without hesitation, but she went through season 2. This is another evidence of "season 2 erasure" that I mentioned earlier. Oh, Yoon Hee saved Eun Byul's life, and to thank her, Cheon Seo Jin kills her. When Logan Lee became the 3rd character to be brought back from the dead, I got even more upset with her death because I knew that there was no way they would do 2 fake deaths in one season, and her body being shown was proof of that.
And finally, the ending... 48 episodes... for that? Shim Su Ryeon did not deserve to die! I'm glad everything finally got resolved, character development was given to characters that deserved it (ex. Ma Ri), but killing the whole trio was too much for me and, in my opinion, not a good ending. You don't always need the main heroine to survive, but in Penthouse's case, it would have been a sense of victory. Even though she got victory regardless, her living was the biggest one of all because she would outlive those who had killed her child and ruined her life. It's rare for a drama to have such a perfect ending these days, but Penthouse was so close to achieving that.
Final thoughts:
If I were to watch this drama again, which I might since I did enjoy it, I think maybe I'll just stop a few minutes before season 2 ends. If you stop the last episode of season 2 after they all get arrested, season 3 isn't (exactly) necessary to watch. I still think this is one of the best makjangs out there and am glad I watched this drama since day 1. Even though I became frustrated with some things, I will miss this drama greatly, since It's been with me for almost a whole year.
Penthouse is not perfect, as it has its flaws, especially in season 3, but in my eyes, it is still a masterpiece, and forever will be.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
A story about loneliness and the struggles of everyday life...
Many viewers won't like this series much, because first it's not a BL, secondly there is no real drama but many heartwarming/heartbreaking moments in this story. It's a slice of life where two people drawn together, fight their past baggage and come together in the end.It depicts the struggles especially in Japan where social pressure and expecations are a real burden. The last episode Azuma describes that best: "I feel like I've just been running in circles. I kept telling myself I'd take a real break when things settle down. But "settling down"... if you don't force yourself to take the time, it feels like it'll never happen."
We see the disconnect of families like Kuji and his brother, who takes the house Kuji is living in, not just because he inherited but despite his hate for his father. He does not really need that house but he kicks Kuji out of it regardless. Azumas mom is struggeling with loneliness because many eldery people left alone because their spouses already left and their children are struggeling themselves not investing the time to be there for them.
This is slow pacing, some may say boring, but life itself is not an action movie. It's running in circles and to break out of that circle is the real challenge both of them faces. And in the end, they manage to do it.
These are veteran actors not needing a queer role to stay relevant. Of course Takeda Kouhei is best known to us for his role in "Oldfashion Cupcake" while for Shibuya Kento it's his first stop at such an series as a main role (he was a guest in Ossans Love). Both did an amazing job and overall the cast was strong. Production quality and cinematography was on point with slow movements and great pictures to punctuate the actors characters and performance.
If you are tired of the 100th school BL this is something completely different, a mature look of two people struggeling and a sensitive composition of how two people can find to each other without the usual drama and silly scripts. I can't do no other as highly recommand you to watch this. But this is not for escapists, this is for people who want to improve their understanding.
Was this review helpful to you?
Song Hye Ko does an admirable job feigning blindness. Jo In Sung looks amazing in fashions that seemed to be lifted right out of American gangster movies based in the 20's and 30's. Besides the fact that he definitely looks the part of an attractive womanize, the man can also act. I spent pretty much all of the drama heavily sympathizing with and rooting for him, even while realizing what he was doing was highly questionable/just plain wrong.
Kim Tae Woo was awesome as Moo Cheol. I definitely felt all sorts of emotions towards him as his story progressed.
I just thought the story was beautifully acted and filmed. I was on my toes for the whole thing, and could not stop watching it until it was all over. It really got me out of my drama slump!
Was this review helpful to you?
Good not great
It's a good movie to pass the time and you certainly won't be bored watching it but the ending leaves more to be desired. It doesn't quite feel complete. There were certain aspects that I thought would be explored but weren't. It only explores the relationship between a mother, Kill Bok Soon and her daughter.The action sequences were enjoyable but it's not the best female action sequences I've seen. It's good. There's plenty of action in fact. Just nothing mindblowing.
The movie has some comedy and lots of blood.
One thing to note is there is a sex scene. Nothing is shown.
There were a few characters and appearances that I really enjoyed.
Esom as Cha Min Hee, the company CEO's annoying sister. I last saw her in Taxi Driver and loved the contrast in the characters. I was quite amused.
Lee Jae Wook as the young CEO. It's a short role but put a bright smile on my face. This is the first other project I'm seeing of his after Alchemy Of Souls.
EXTRA SCENE
Just after the credits first start, there is a small extra scene so don't forget to catch that.
Was this review helpful to you?
Soredemo, Ikite Yuku is an unforgettable drama. It’s simple, yet captivating, slow-paced, but addicting and sad, but at the same time very optimistic.
It tells the story of two families whose normal, everyday life was suddenly broken by a terrible crime and shows how people who were affected by it try to live on, cope with this tragedy. What I liked about this drama is the fact that it shows that both sides suffer, although differently – not only a victim’s family’s life is changed forever, but also those, who are related to murderer have to continue living with guilt and knowledge that somebody close to them killed an innocent person and destroyed lives of many people. It’s rare (at least for me) to find a story that gives a right to suffer not only to the victim’s side, but also for the other side too, so that’s a huge plus for writers.
The plot of this drama is really simple – it shows how the younger generation tries to heal their families and find the reason why the tragedy had to happen. Both main leads – Hiroki and Futaba are amazing, not only in terms of acting, but also as the characters. They feel real in their social awkwardness and their stubbornness to make things right is heartwrenching. Also, their relationship is unique and charming – two people who should be on the opposite sides join forces, change themselves and their families and also find in each other something akin to soulmates.
The pace in this one might be considered a bit slow by some, but for me this was surprisingly an advantage; because of that screenwriters could show us a very believable character development; everything was happening slowly, yet in the right moment and nearly every single behavior was justified and didn’t seem rushed or out of place. Also, I loved it that this drama despite taking on a really hard, seemingly depressing subject, is not overly dramatic and sad – it leaves the viewer with optimistic feelings. It’s like a catharsis.
Acting in this drama deserves a separate essay, so I’ll try to keep it short. Everybody was amazing! Yeah, yeah, it sounds like an exaggeration but believe me, it is not. Every single actor played his part perfectly – Eita ended up being my favourite Japanese actor ever, I’m stalking him now and plan to watch all his dramas. He was just natural in his role of an awkward guy for whom the time stopped when he was a teenager and who has to cope with his conflicting feelings for a family of his sisters murderer. His co-star, Mitsushima Hikari was great too, she’s a versatile actress who, in my opinion, has a huge potential to be one of the best Japanese actresses in few years. Just watch her in this drama and then see Love Exposure – I still can’t believe she’s the same person! Supporting actors, especially Hiroki’s mother, a woman who never accepted her daughter’s death (her monologue in ep.5 left me speechless) and Futaba’s father, a man who tries to atone for his son’s wrongdoings with all his might - they were outstanding in their roles, they could easily make the viewers feel the pain of the parent who lost his/her child. The only actor I was not impressed by was Kazama Shunsuke who played the murderer, but well, his role of a slightly autistic guy who never really grew up was really hard and still, he did a decent job, he was just not as amazing as the rest of the cast.
As for music in this drama I’ll only say that the opening song was really annoying at first. It slowly grew on me, but I still think it’s horrible. This wailing guy should keep his mouth shut for his entire life.
So to sum it all up, what I was trying to tell (or more write) in this review is that Soredemo, Ikite Yuku is one hell of a drama. I’ll use those corny descriptions again: it’s beautiful, thought-provoking and original, but see yourself if I’m not exaggerating!
Was this review helpful to you?
Finally something worth watching?? I don't have words.
I didn't know that I would say this about a vampire centric drama but it was really a breath of fresh air. After a long wait Cdrama world finally gave something worth watching which ended the spell of boring dramas of this year. We were inundated with many overhyped shows which could not do justice to all the anticipation. I wasn't sure about this one either (especially if it is a republican era one) but the first episode was more than enough to intrigue me with its unique plotline. The cinematography looked really nice plus the music beautifully accentuated the scenes. I loved the acting of all the actors and hoped this one could surprise us the way 'The double' did this year. However my hopes came down shattering pretty soon. It was already becoming impossible to ignore all the loopholes in the plot but by the time we reached the end, the drama totally took us as a fool. I was no longer mesmerized by the cinematography as I was in the beginning. The side characters completely took over the main leads and I could clearly see that they were forcibly giving more screen time to yinling. (Plus their efforts to justify all the wrong actions of some characters to gain sympathy of the viewers is just so... incomprehensible ). The show didn't really give proper closer to most of the characters (I wonder what was the rush?) The ending was so disappointing that I don't have words to explain it. If it wasn't for the good cast I would have dropped the show but I continued just for them..Their acting on the other hand kind of... began to look stiff towards the end as if nobody was feeling the emotions that their characters were supposed to feel or perhaps it was the weird editing that made me feel that way.(Except for Mi Lan, she was pretty good till the end).To conclude it all...this one could have been a great show with solid performance but they did their magic and ruined it all and made it another one time watch drama at most.
Was this review helpful to you?
It’s a special type of emotional experience, watching a drama like Skate Into Love, which has solid strengths yet also a fair share of wobbly flaws. It took some serious consideration for me to establish how to reconcile all the positives and negatives; but after watching the conclusion, I can say that for its genre, Skate Into Love can stand tall in its field.
The basis of the plot is a concoction of classic rom-com tropes. The leads know one another from early childhood and, upon reuniting years later, their relationship becomes an “enemies to lovers” affair. This show's primary differentiating factor is its inclusion of ice sports, which dictates significant plot points and is crucial in the growth of several characters.
The first half of the show overflows with sweet and humorous moments between Tang Xue and Li Yu Bing as their constant bickering turns into genuine care for one another. Their romance is a strong force because they, as separate characters, are both independent people who have flaws as obvious as their strengths. They manage to grow together and are capable of helping each other because they understand the person opposite them incredibly well. It warms the heart to watch and you can’t help but root for them as a couple and as individuals.
That being said, there are some other plot points that beg to be mentioned:
One: third wheels. It’s a rom-com rule that they have to stick their head into the plot. Listen, I don’t make the rules. Take it up with the screenwriters upstairs. They’re the ones who insist on including several love rivals. Some of them can actually pique your interest as they evolve over time, so not all of them are a total waste of your attention. However, it’s my civic duty to throw one of them – Mr. Bian “creepy chuckle” Cheng – under the bus for starting as a minor headache, then evolving into a complete migraine by intervening in the main couple’s relationships in the most boring and inconsequential ways possible. He is, hands-down, the weakest link of this show. You don’t hate him because he’s an actual threat, you hate him because he could be interesting but just isn't.
Then, there are the side couples. Like the third wheels, I don’t even remember how many of them there are. But nonetheless, they pass around the baton for taking over the show every once in many a while. A key positive point about all the supporting characters is that the writers did try to make them more dimensional. Just like the main characters, they each have unique motivations and insecurities, making them feel a lot more human than what could be said for many non-leads in other shows. Whether it be friends, family members, or rivals of the main characters, I really liked how they all had their own lives and problems. That further helped make all of the platonic relationships much more enticing. Even so, it’s incredibly difficult to have a drama effectively focus on a main couple as well as multiple side stories – some will certainly feel like plot filler, especially in early parts of the show, because we don’t see their full development like we can with Tang Xue and Li Yubing.
There are also some moments involving the leads that feel a bit iffy considering their personalities. Don’t you just love when a relationship, consisting of two amazingly communicative characters who deeply seek to understand one another, abruptly crumbles due to external factors that existed but didn’t matter before? To have problems within a relationship is completely normal; and while I’m glad to see them addressed, the way that they’re depicted is sometimes too theatrical. I’m not going to lie. Seeing all the age-old melodrama cliches enter the picture and challenge the romance is almost entertaining – in the same way that watching someone slip and fall is entertaining after you told them beforehand, “careful, it’s slippery”: the ridiculousness of something happening when it shouldn’t is quite…amusing, to say the least.
These flaws aside, I overall found the story to be a good balance of being amusing (even hilarious) at times and serious during others. I liked how sports are involved in some of the characters’ lives, providing them with dreams and purpose. Part of me wishes that there were more competition scenes shown, as the action during them was fun to watch (and inaccurate, but come on. It’s people on ice with knives on their feet; that in itself is deserving of a thumbs-up). Much of that may be due to my own preference, though, since personally like some ice sports and would hardly object to seeing more of them.
As for the acting, I genuinely appreciated the life that the lead actors brought to the story. Tang Xue is a character who – if assigned to a poor actress – could easily be depicted as annoying due to her outspoken nature, but Wu Qian does an excellent job balancing that boisterous behavior with kindheartedness. Zhang Xincheng also shines in the role of Li Yubing. His depiction of a childish yet determined young man is spot-on. Together, these two actors created an excellent picture of a happy and young relationship, full of promises and hope for the future. When evaluating the supporting actors, I found their abilities sufficient for the roles that they're given and certainly wouldn’t mind watching their future projects.
As far as rom-coms go, Skate Into Love is satisfactory. Though it occasionally stumbles, none of that changes how it put some of the biggest smiles on my face out of many of the rom-coms I’ve seen thus far. You really just have to go in prepared to brush off all the cliches, because what’s underneath all that dust is a very sweet story that is worth sitting through.
Was this review helpful to you?
It' the quality effect indeed. He has done some really good movies and The Man From Nowhere is a great example of his less-in-quantity-more-in-quality movies. I loved this movie. It was thrilling and touching all at once. A man going all the way to save a little girl because she's his friend. And the man cannot be stopped! He's a freaking one-man army, who won't stop until he wants to. What a great plot! I was on the edge of my seat throughout the movie and the ending made me cry. Well, almost since I don't cry that easily. The ending was a little different from what I expected but it was a good ending.
The rewatch value is the only thing that is not a ten for me. That's mostly because you know how the movie will progress and that steals a bit of the excitement. But the action scenes are simply WOW. The lead character is so strong and invincible, but he doesn't care about glory.
Was this review helpful to you?
1This review may contain spoilers
Smart Demons + Stupid Humans = Extraordinary Mess
Watched this to see Xu Kai act but just like in a previous series of his; his and everyone else's acting was great but the story itself was a hot mess. Wish he or whomever chooses for him, chose better. The only reason this even got a 6.5 and not lower was because of the literally only 3 pros. Otherwise, it was like the mighty morphin power rangers and mortal kombat took LSD and spit this out.Pros: Leads chemistry, the actors hard work which included great fight scenes, and costumes (except for the Halloween store costume lion for Uncle Tang), and good OSTs. No other pros.
Cons: Now don't get me wrong, I'm all for smart antagonists but not when the protagonists are so ridiculously idiotic. Just about everyone was led by the nose by the demons the ENTIRE show. Even when our ML told them otherwise, the Elders still chose to believe evil people. The amount of times the good guys failed to understand something very simple made you want to run your face into the wall. The entire series made a ton of no sense because the bad guys were running the show while the good guys were just walking around like zombies and talking in circles.
Did just about everyone really deserve to die; KYY's death in the last episode was pointless and meaningless. Some really did die as heroes but what made much of it senseless is that if they put two and two together sooner and made it 4 instead of 7, they could have made things happen sooner and survived. It made me feel like whoever the writer was, had no clue how to write a novel or one that's understandable or cohesive. Ji Rong staying alive and even her death at the hands of probably the show’s stupidest character, made me feel like I lost brain cells. DXY warned his brother and the two elders something was fishy about her from nearly the beginning and yet both uncles died because of her.
The sets and CGI looked very cheap. The words chucked up on the screen each time a new magic trick was used was eye roll worthy. Welcome to the 90s and not in a good way! Situ Hong's ruthlessness was completely ignored and his death and that of the weird random cultivator that at first clung to XY was completely pathetic. Both were sucked dry for big bad demon God that most of the time sounded like an alien cat that sucked in a helium balloon. We were all expecting a fight between him and XY but yeah, why bother?
Demon Ao Lan turned himself into a psychedelic Venus flytrap to try and kill XY in the last episode and it had me laughing. Little Shop of Horrors that was filmed in the 1970s had better CGI than this mess. I shed a tear for Shifu sacrificing himself at the end as out of all the guardians, he was the only one that infiltrated the demon clan and didn't do too poorly. Yes, happy ending for leads and the maybe 3 other living people but what did I watch for 40 episodes?
Would I recommend? No way. Even if you are a fan of the leads or anyone else, please find something else. Leads chemistry is not enough to hold this thing together.
Was this review helpful to you?
Sincerity and Hilarity
I just . . . <3 ❤❤❤Such wholesome and supportive MLs! Ida and Aoki were everything good in this world.
The first episode did an amazing job setting up not just the characters and comedic style of the drama (which I adored) but also showing who Ida and Aoki are as people.
Ida is the kind of guy who thinks about things very seriously and carefully and despite not being exposed to/experiencing what many others already have is open to something unfamiliar to him. He also cares deeply about the feelings of others and always takes them into consideration, though he appears quite stoic and awkward at times. Lol.
Aoki is the kind of guy who doesn't let jealousy guide him in acting in ways that would benefit him personally while hurting others. He is willing to make sacrifices for the people he cares about even if it is to his detriment. And, he is very outwardly emotional and expressive, but also quite shy at times. Lol.
That was an impressive thing to accomplish in just the first episode alone.
This is the kind of drama that will not only make you cry from laughing so hard at Ida's dry humor, Aoki's meme-worthy and iconic reactions/facial expressions, Hashimoto's violent/impulsive nature, and Aida's blissful ignorance, but also from how much consideration and kindness oozes from the MLs.
Ida's sincerity was seriously too much for my poor heart to take! And Aoki made my cheeks ache from how many times I couldn't contain my giggles and abrupt bursts of laughter! Needless to say, I along with many of you now have to figure out a way to share custody of the absolute mood that is Aoki Sota.
Something a bit underrated and beautiful I didn't fully notice about this drama until it had a few episodes left was Aoki and Ida saying statements Directly expressing their emotions about things related to their relationship, and also the other paying attention and taking them seriously. Such as, "That made me upset," "That made me happy," etc. Saying This thing you did made me feel This. Basically, "I" statements.
I can't think of very many dramas that do this/have done this.
I've actually read that couples counselors will advise their clients to communicate in this way to directly address their feelings and not be accusatory when/if they're upset with their partner. Yet another reason for me to adore Kieta Hatsukoi and the precious couple in it.
This drama was not only a great showcasing of healthy and communicative relationships, it was also highly addictive. I rewatched each episode (until it was completed) about a dozen times before the next one aired.
Regarding representation, I could not be more happy! Aoki was a wonderful and respectful representation of Bisexuality. It was also delightfully easy to show. He was in love with Hashimoto and then he fell in love with Ida. Simple. He didn't declare that he "doesn't like boys and just likes him" (I hate that trope so much) nor was there any line indicating he never truly loved Hashimoto and was just "confused." He didn't deny his past love and also accepted his present love. I could cry!
I think this was as perfect Bi representation as you could get without actually saying the word Bisexual.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Slow paced. Gloomy. Solid crime thriller, set in a perhaps somewhat peculiar milieu
“The Bequeathed” is a dark and gloomy crime thriller that is set on the fringes of madness, obsession and shamanistic practices, taking place in a remote backcountry, where ordinary people have for generations been burying their dead under green burial mounds. It's not a horror story, but rather a solid, yet slow paced crime thriller, set in a perhaps somewhat peculiar milieu.There are only 6 episodes. Nevertheless, with only a little for the short time, comparatively much is revealed about a wildly mixed bouquet of different characters. A hodgepodge of astonishingly vividly drawn figures cross paths, take their space quite naturally and leave their traces with the audience. Against the background of the ongoing investigation into a series of murders, they all get the chance to clear up what they have (emotionally) left behind ... and move on.
I would not have expected this. Therefore I was positively surprised.
Authentic performance. Amazingly complex with haunting cinematic implementation. Dense. Suspenseful.
Nonetheless consistently gloomy. (It does get a little brighter towards the end though...)
Was this review helpful to you?
STORY: It is not your usual drama. It has quite different elements. I loved how the relationship is developed within and outside the families. I loved how they tackled the problems.They pretty much covered all the topics. Some include parenting, bullying, marriage, societal pressure. It is a delight to watch.
ACTING: Each and every actor portrayed their respective roles very well. It definitely has a stellar cast. Lee Joon and Lee Yoo Ri deserves a special mention. They're extremely wonderful. Lee Joon is a fantabulous actor that I can guarantee.
MUSIC: The music was good.
RE-WATCH VALUE: I'm definitely going to re-watch it not only for one time but for many times.
For me this is the most beautiful drama I've ever seen.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Why Mask Girl was great and why some couldn't understand the meaning behind it!
Some are free to dislike or even hate this Kdrama, but it is important to recognize that not every female lead in a Kdrama has to fit the mold of a "strong good girl." We need more complex, enigmatic, and twisted female characters. Personally, I look forward to the day when I can witness a compelling kdrama centered around a female serial killer. Because why not?Among the many memorable scenes in this K-drama that I loved, two that stood out to me were when Mi Mo murdered Oh Nam and when she and Chun Ae joined forces, gripping the rope from opposite sides, killing Chun Ae's abusive boyfriend. These scenes beautifully conveyed the feeling of saying, (I'm done!) even if they weren't executed most kindly.
This kdrama delved into the lives of women from different eras and age groups who harbored dreams and aspirations but were compelled to conceal their true selves, wear a mask, and conform to societal expectations and the whims of men. Some succumbed to defeat and strayed down the wrong path, while others, like teenager Mi Mo, representing the new generation, came to understand the essence of their experiences. This realization was poignantly depicted in the scene where Mi Mo watches a videotape of her mother's performance when she was an innocent child at the end of the show. And even she said that since then, the nightmares that haunted her about her mother have stopped.
To some, it may appear as if there are too many stories interwoven within this story. However, upon closer look, each character embodies a distinct facet of the female experience:
- Kyung Ja represents the older generation of women who were unable to even realize their dreams, thereby dedicating their entire lives to their children and utilizing them as instruments to accomplish their own aspirations and desires that they couldn't do themselves. Hence the obsessiveness in her mind & her crazy way of holding on to God's beliefs as the women in her generation were told.
You can see some of this in Mo Mi's mother as well, as she hates how her daughter wasn't good enough for her expectations.
- Mo Mi embodies the generation of women who were told to be beautiful and finding a tall, handsome, and charismatic man was the ultimate dream and the sole path to love, even if said the man turned out to be the ultimate idiot.
And if she happened to feel good about herself or her body in some way, some creep will see her as a thing to claim!
Nonetheless, women like Mi Mo fail to comprehend that loving oneself is the key to happiness and earning the affection of others. Thus, in her pursuit of conforming to society's superficial beauty standards, believing that it would enable her to start fresh, be beautiful, and be loved, she inadvertently destroyed herself. Consequently, she was labeled a monster despite her "new attractive appearance".
- And finally, Mi Mo symbolizes the younger generation, a girl who is angry at people "the society views on her", dreading the possibility of ending up like her mom, "the previous generation of women," and has a hatred towards her grandma's way of thinking, "the older generation of women.
But in the end, she gradually grasps the reality that the world is not simply divided into black and white, decides to accept herself as she is, forgives her grandmother (Mo Mi's Mother), and contemplates how her mother's fate might have been different had the world been more understanding.
Overall, the show was crazy and dark indeed, but so are the lives of these 3 women.
Was this review helpful to you?
The Great Doctor
52 people found this review helpful
An epic historic love story, playing with time and space. Waggish. Affecting. Wonderful acting.
A special dramaturgical drive given by time travel and parallel worlds are quite common in KDrama. Thus contrasting perspectives from different backgrounds quite regulararly add unconventional fun and extra thrill to story dynamics.Additionally, KDramas like to chose a historically exotic context for its intriguing and romantic stories, while still giving them an epic scope. Even if not always historically exact, these plots offer plenty of material for drama and at the same time convey historical facts and heroes in a colorful dress. Epochal personalities and their impact come to life again. As Korean history goes far back in time, there are yet many more heroic stories to be told...
"Faith or the Great Doctor" combines both, the historical approach as well as playing with time and space in one story. In fact, history is thus presented even more funny and colourfully. On the historic side, this KDrama revolves around the legendary General Choe Yeong (1316-1388) who went down in history as the protector of the Goryeo Empire and its royal family. Incidentally, this is not the only KDrama that has been dedicated to him to date... As early as 1983, a series monument was erected for him in "Gyegook" and "Chu Dong Mama". He is also featured in "Tears of the Dragon" (1998), "Shin Don" (2006), "The Great Seer" (2012), "Jung Dojeon" (2014), and "Six Flying Dragons" (2016). You guessed it, he´s a real hero for the Korean Peninsula.
-------------------- SIDE NOTE: --- General Choe Yeong ---
Known for his strength from an early age, the son of a civil servant learned martial arts and studied books on military strategy. Over the centuries he had finally achieved the status of legendary protector of the Goryeo dynasty. Although he was also exiled for 6 years due to intrigues, in the course of his life this did not prevent him from fighting around 80 more battles in the service of the king. He lost his last battle against his former brother-in-arms, General Yi Seonggye, when he seized power in a coup d'etat in 1388 during the Battle of Liaodong. This was also the birth of the Joseon Dynasty.
-----------------------------------------------------------
"Faith or the Great Doctor" traces the path and integer character of Choe Yeong, whose motto has been handed down as "consider gold as if it were a stone". It´s obviously not pure poetic freedom when he is portrayed as sincere, stylish and gallant. And also does his combative superiority not seem exaggerated - his skills are historically documented. The focus of this KDrama is rather on the young general. He is not only presented as a strong leader, but as a young man who falls in love with a woman who is almost 10 years older. This (fictional) constellation offers some extra driving dynamics to the romance - as well as a comparably pleasant maturity at times as well.
The title plays with the different language styles in Korean - the old Hanja, which was written in Chinese characters until 1443, and the Hangul writing, which was newly created during the Joseon dynasty (and in which many Hanja terms have been preserved to this day.) So the original title "Sin-ui" may be understood both as 'trust in law and order' or as 'gifted healer'. In this sense, the title not only values Choe Yeong, the protector of law and order in the Goyeo Empire (refering to the Hanja translation), but also the gifted female healer (refering to the meaning in Hangul) - Eun Soo, a cosmetic surgeon from Seoul in 2012.
In the midst of waggish and heartbeat, this epic love story with all sorts of dramatic twists and turns absorbs within an eventful chapter of Korean history. The contrasts between modern and traditional medicine, somehow clashing in the middle of the 14th century, as well as between the almost rebellious, outrageous self-confidence of the by modern Seoul life spoiled doctor Eun Hoo and the ancient court of the Goryeo royal family guarantee 24 episodes of evocative entertainment.
"Faith or the Great Doctor" is an epic historic drama and at the same time playing with time and space. With two wonderful leading actors and more. The perfect mix for an epic Rom+/-Com.
Was this review helpful to you?
Do not watch the movie with the expectations of it being like the prequel
I am not sure why everyone gave the movie low ratings because I definitely did enjoyed the movie. It is definitely not the Train to Busan but it's a great movie overall if u watch the movie without expectations of it being like the prequel. It is action-packed and has a pretty good story. It has a fair share of emotional moments and the acting was also pretty decent as well. The downside is that there's too much CGI where most of the car battles are CGI.On a last note, it is nowhere near its predecessor but it definitely holds its own.
Was this review helpful to you?
