1"Is it really happiness for women like us to live without making waves?"
I have struggled to put a review together for and rate Asura aka Ashura no Gotoku. The acting and production values were quite high for this slice of life about four grown sisters in 1979. Given that I’ve seen dramas set in the present with similar marital issues, I’m not sure why it was set in the past. The outcomes were still the same. If you are sensitive to infidelity, there was an abundance of it in this drama. The sisters’ relationships were almost strong enough for me to overlook the lack of pertinent social commentary on women’s roles 45 years ago. Almost.Widow Tsunako is the eldest daughter followed by married Makiko who has two teenage children. Takiko is single and works in a library. Makiko is the youngest and a firebrand living with a boxer. Takiko calls them together with proof that their father has been having an affair for years. Tsunako disapproves but given that she is having an affair with a married man, not in the best place to judge. Makiko is sure her husband is having an affair and believes that ignorance is bliss. Takiko is distraught, never thinking her father would be capable of deceiving their mother. Makiko’s husband is of the opinion that boys will be boys and they need to have a little fun after working so hard. Each of the sisters will have to deal with the infidelity playing out in their lives in their own ways.
The drama showed the pain that the men’s affairs had on the women, yet also glossed over the pain in other areas. The women had no choice but to put up with it. The drama failed to specify why. Maybe because their audience already knew the answers. The women had few career opportunities and divorce for a middle-aged woman would have been financially devastating as well as socially. The men were also skilled at gaslighting and brainwashing the women. I’m not condoning infidelity but in the drama’s context would the men have been so lackadaisical about sex outside of marriage if the women had the right to do so as well? Perhaps birth control wasn’t readily available for the women not in menopause, or being stuck in the house most of the day, they didn’t have opportunities to meet men to have their own stress relief. How I desperately wanted for Grandma to be having a torrid affair with the tofu delivery man while Grandpa was out with his second family.
Disappointingly, the widowed sister carrying on an affair had no thought for the betrayed wife. While I could see her not wanting to get married as she had her own income, her decision caused pain for someone else. Marriage would have been a step down for her as she would have reverted to being a servant instead of lover.
My favorite relationship is the one I hoped lasted and maintained their monogamous commitment. Awkward potatoes Takiko and Katsumata were adorable. Youngest sister Sakiko’s bravado could be wearing as she desperately wanted to prove her older sisters wrong about her boyfriend Jinnai. She had the most emotional growth when tragedy hit her marriage.
Because all of the excuses for the men became irritating, I feel like I have gone on too much about the infidelity aspects of this drama. What I loved were the sisters’ relationships with each other. The two youngest bickered in typical sibling rivalry. The two oldest sisters were bonded by age and years together. The younger sisters also knew that the reason they existed was that their father had hoped for a son each time. Despite their anger at the father for his extra-marital relationships, the sisters still helped him when he needed it. The women might have fought and criticized, but when one hurt, they all did. Regardless of the situation, they supported each other fiercely. If not for their sisterly contact some of these women would have been living in a socially limited world.
This family drama was well acted. The sisters were unique, with their own strengths and quirks. Their relationships with each other were believable and realistic. As for the affairs, there were no satisfying resolutions. Each generation taught the next to bury their hatred and resentment because speaking out just made the situation worse. They learned to live in the shallow end of conversations, never delving too deep. The relationships built on unequal power and status, left at least two of the wives trapped and unable to fully live. Where was their excitement, meaningful companionship, and desire? Trust and loyalty resided more in the sisterly bonds than in the marital ones.
11 January 2025
Was this review helpful to you?
i need more
Hey Strongberry, sit down here, let's have a friendly conversation. You guys will really make me fall in love with every movie that you guys do? mannnnnnnnnn we need a SERIES, this movie suits more like a first episode of a series. then you can explore a great relationship and fears, and maaaaaaaaaan you guys really have talent and make the Korean Bl's the greatest. I'm really sick of the Bl korean series having the same format and strongberry are out here to make everything different and unique. you guys for SURE have my support! the actors are so pretty and act so well, the soundtrack it's good too. I need more.Was this review helpful to you?
Cast - I gave perfect score, 'cos they really deserved it! for Yano and Takahashi's role, they did a great acting, they gave life to the role... I mean it's really like in the anime.
Music - I love the OST. Great choice of songs. :)
Rewatch Value - Definitely, I will watch it all over again.
Overall - since it has 2 parts as of now this is the first part so I'm still looking forward to the second part. Totally inlove with the movie! Watch it and you'll see! :)
Was this review helpful to you?
However, at the beginning of the movie, Cho Won’s mother made a statement where she wanted him to have self worth. I think in her pursuit of this, she kind of lost her purpose and doubted her reasons. Me, personally, I applaud her for doing it.
The acting by the leads, Kim Mi Sook and Cho Seung Woo was outstanding. The attention to detail that not only Mi Sook focused on as the mother but Seung Woo as an autistic man was definitely believable.
No stone was left unturned; from Cho Won’s treatment by so-called normal people to the jealousy his brother had because of all the attention his brother got. I was glad they didn’t leave that out. I believe the actors spent a lot of time researching the subject as well as talking to the real life Mother and Son. Yes, this is a true story that reflects the life and accomplishments of not only the mother but the son, in his pursuit to run!
A great real-life story!!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
This time travel/parallel universe drama started badly, the FL lead's character seems annoyingly distracting at first. I would have dropped it at episode 1 but I'm a fan of Li Hongyi so I continued to watch it.I found that was not the case later on. The FL was sensible, smart, patient and cute in interacting with the ML. I normally don't like older women-younger men relationship stories but I find their interactions to be amazing and funny until I was rooting for the FL and ML .
Less points for the ending. Though it's a happy one, a lot of details seemed overlooked...
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
What’s with all the hate?!
Reading all the negative reviews I’m stunned!The message(s) this show sent were so clear, and quite simple to understand. Money will not buy happiness. Even after our main character survived the show, he was haunted by what happened to him. Begin only able to sleep and begin haunted by nightmares whenever he does, made it irrelevant if he had money or not. Because of the things he had to do for those numbers on his phone, he’s just as miserable. And the underlying message was said directly to us: life will go on. No matter what we go though, everything will continue as it used to.
Another criticism of this show that I’ve seen is that it’s „a cheap copy of squid game” which is just baffling to me. Squid game and The 8 game may tackle on the same issues on the surface but the way in which they do so is completely different. Squid game was fair, every player had the same ground-zero, it’s point was mainly the lengths people will go to in order to earn money (small squid game spoiler ahead) proven by how many players returned to the game. The 8 game on the other hand replicated the outside world with just 8 people, rigged from the start just as life is. By creating an ecosystem with a hierarchy we got sort of an „animal farm” scenario with everything returning to higher floors supremacy.
I do have my own criticisms of the show. However overall, for a tv show, this is brilliant. But again, looking at the reviews not everyone agrees with me. Not liking something is fine but the nonsense reasons I see are just insulting.
Was this review helpful to you?
Season 2 is as good as Season 1
I've read some of the reviews and I was quite shocked that some of them gave this drama a terrible review/rate when in fact it was a great drama. First, I was a fan of Romantic Doctor that I've watch that first season a lot, and I think watching it again before starting this second season was not a bad move since the charm of medical drama is still there, as well as,the tension, and the romance. I was still amazed on the cases that they've brought every week and how Dr. Kim (along with Dr. Woo Jin and Dr. Eun Jae with the help of Doldam staff) overcome them. It was also good that they still mention the characters of Dr. Kang Dong Joo and Dr. Yoon Seo Jung in some scenes and even have Dr. Do In Bum a cameo that really hype up those last episodes.Second, I also want to praise the new characters for giving a new spice in the drama as they introduce their stories and backgrounds to the viewers. Lastly, I also want to compliment the OST as it gives life to the scenes that makes it more interesting and exciting to watch.
Overall, it is true that it is somehow different to the first season that some of us said that it already lost it charm when they started a new season with different leads. But for me, I think this drama has a different charisma that it captivates the viewers to watch it weekly which is obviously true as it passes a 20 percent viewership rating on its first airing and it breaks it record as a new episode comes. Still, I can say that when it comes to medical-romance drama, "Romantic Doctor" series will be on the number one of my list.
Was this review helpful to you?
This drama have it all; the story was nice, i loved the gender bender story, the cast couldn't been any better and all characters were simply awesome.
I also loved the hilarious events, there were episodes where i couldn't stop laughing, there were also moments of sadness, i remember being extremly sad when it ended. Hana Kimi is one of the dramas that need to be watched, it's one of the dramas that i would never forget about.
The best version out there !
Was this review helpful to you?
Not since Dalja’s Spring have I felt that characters other than the main couple received as much loving attention as they did in Miss Korea. And, Miss Korea surpasses Dalja’s Spring at that (Miss Korea now has my favorite secondary couple in the history of Kdrama). But Miss Korea has so much more going for it than the characters, even if they are the best feature. Acting, writing, directing, cinematography, costumes, soundtrack, attention to detail and research – Miss Korea excels in all of these areas. Miss Korea might be, nay, IS the first Kdrama that I can say has no flaws. I wouldn’t change a thing – not one thing – not even the ending, and, as all us Kdrama lovers know, endings are usually the pitfall of every Kdrama no matter how good it is. But Miss Korea’s last episode is as perfect as its first and all the episodes in between.
In fact, there is only one problem with Miss Korea (I know I said it has no flaws, but hear me out)…
…NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE WATCHED IT! It is a travesty that this drama has not been more viewed domestically and abroad. Sure it was going up against the juggernaut of You Who Came from the Stars (or whatever translation you want to use), and that is a good drama, a very entertaining drama, but it’s not perfect (although Jun Ji Hyun is). But in the age of Internet and DVR, that’s no excuse! I wish more people in SK had watched this drama because I want more dramas like it, many more!
I want more Kdramas that feel this organic, with real characters going about their real lives and no makjang craziness! I want a rich, full universe that feels lived in with characters I love who have simple and beautiful hopes and dreams and are capable of achieving them using their own minds and effort rather than ridiculous dues ex machina and unrealistic plot twists. I want soundtracks that rock my world and perfectly match every mood and moment of the drama. I want good actors acting great and previously bad actors going above and beyond our wildest expectations. I want empowered women who are business owners and scientists. I want heroines that blow my mind with their personal strength and honesty and courage. I want OTPs that are honest with each other and even when one tries noble idiocy the other calls b.s. and there are no misunderstandings – EVER! I want careful attention to details and good research into plot devices.
I WANT MORE DRAMAS LIKE MISS KOREA! Watch it and you will too!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
So far, its the best bl of 2023
I don't know where even to begin. They both are damn cute. Those small touches, talks, kisses. This is everything I want in a drama. Usually, I wouldn't say I like many bls because of too many explicit scenes and not enough actual development or a proper story. but this one exceeded my expectations. The chemistry is damn amazing between these two. and the acting is stellar. Seriously, others should take a look at this and see how to write a show. The plot is insanely simple. but the execution is the thing that matters. They did a really good job with it. and the game at the end was too cute. Seriously cute. Like those choices and finally Wan chose to not run away. The chemistry is amazing. So amazing. Like seriously amazing that you are left with butterflies every time they interact.On to the story. Each episode was better than the previous one. It is so amazing to see both their chemistry expanding as both of them kept on interacting. and yes as I have mentioned in the above, the story was really simple. But the way both of them portrayed the characters and the visuals of the show was damn amazing. It was aesthetically pleasing and the editing was damn good. I liked it. and I would say the ending game at the end of episodes was so damn good. It was like we get to see how their highschool years went on without us having to go deep into flashbacks
Now I wish the run time was longer and the episodes too. but honestly i liked what they did with this. and honestly looking forward to the future projects of the actors. The show mostly focuses on the main leads so we don't get to see much of the side characters. They don't stick out much other than those funny office moments. but I can't ask for more with the given amount of time and am really happy with this. The music was fine. Nothing special but it wasn't jarring too. It was enjoyable.
Overall, I would suggest this drama to every rom com fanatics. This was a really damn good watch. I don't want this to end because this was my most favorite drama that was airing. I am also glad the eighth sense started and I feel like that is going to be a great watch too.
I would totally rewatch this drama again and again. This could totally be one of my comfort dramas because whenever they two share the screen together, I just feel so damn happy for them and couldn't stop smiling.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Great drama if you know what you're getting
I tend to only be interested in writing a review if I feel like I'm in the minority. Lots of negative reviews of this drama seem to be written by people who were expecting something else. So, let me speak for the other side and clear some things up from the beginning, here's what this drama is about: A woman and her two friends go through a very difficult year together and find strength to get through it by relying on one another. This is an especially character-driven drama, rather than story-driven.Mi-jo is the central character, and her relationship to Chan-young is the primary relationship. I would say that Joo-hee and Seon-U or Jin-Seok are probably the second leads. If this were some rom-com and Mi-jo/Chan-young were the ML and FL, no one would be upset about them taking all the screen time. It's weird that everyone seems upset that the illness isn't the most important storyline--this is about their whole lives and that was a large part of it, but not the only part. I do agree that ALL the side plots eventually got a bit chaotic, but I liked getting small bits of insight into everyone's lives.
I thought it was an interesting move to tell us the ending in eps 2, but it allowed for so much more development of the leads and the (really wonderful) rest of the cast. I loved all the parents, with the glaring exception of one. I loved Mi-jo's sister, I fell in love with Seon-u and his love of Mi-jo. (I took a break from this one to watch Yeon Woo Jin in Shy Boss). Would have liked to see a little more of Joo-hee's relationship, but that's just because Hyun-jun's character seemed to have a lot of potential--but again, they aren't the main characters, so I'm fine with not having every answer.
Another thing that anyone should know by the opening scene, but in case you are wondering: This is a TEAR JERKER. I normally don't like tear jerkers and specifically come to kdrama for the comedy and romance. That said, this was a lovely story about women's friendships. Some of the side plot points were a little over the top (Seon-u's father and his sister; the slapdash adoption that appears late in the story, the jailbird), but they are all meant to get in the way of Mi-jo and Chan-young's friendship, and to show the different ways their friendship has shaped how they respond to difficulties.
Mi-jo is an imperfect heroine. She is anxious, clingy, and a bit of a control freak, maybe that's why she is getting so much negativity in the reviews. But, an imperfect character is way more interesting than a perfect one! Again, if you come to this drama interested in watching the main character move through her life and her relationships, including her close friendship to a terminally ill woman, you will be far less disappointed than if you come to this expecting an ensemble slice of life drama.
The music was good enough that I didn't notice it.
Was this review helpful to you?
I loved the first couple episodes. They were exciting and unpredictable (most of the time). But after the eighth ep, it slowed down a lot, so I got bored. Why did I stick with it till the end? I was already halfway through, so I stayed for the romance (haha, this isn't the first time something like this has happened) ;-)
Try this drama if you love light school dramas with a bit of mystery. I was really impressed by the acting of the cast, especially rookie actors Kim Se Jung and Kim Jung Hyun. Their chemistry is over the roof. I found myself skipping through episodes just to get to their scenes. The side storylines were incorporated well. Like sunah said, School 2013 has the best bromance, School 2015 has the best second lead syndrome (rip), and School 2017 has the best male lead. I personally enjoyed School 2015 the most out of all the School series (except for that last episode), but go ahead and give School 2017 a try. It might be your type of drama. :-) It was a fun kdrama, even if it lost steam in the second half.
The final verdict: watch if you enjoy predictable fluffy dramas
Check out:
- Sassy Go Go
- Reply 1988
- Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo
Was this review helpful to you?
The story, first of all, what the heck is it? Like it doesn’t make any sense. The idea was interesting, but the execution is plain bad and boring. There’s no logic to some of the characters actions and what they say, and I’m like what. And this is noted as a rom-com, yet the romance isn’t the greatest in terms of buildup, it just kinda happens. So the chemistry felt off the entire time. And the comedy is the most forced thing ever with many supporting characters just overacting. I feel like the writer should have focused more on the leads slowly functioning in society and a better love story, you know. But whatever, I guess.
Also the characters aren’t memorable.
Dongchan is like bread. White bread. The plain and dry kind. He’s flat out boring and Changwook could’ve done so much better. Though, I do have to say, Miran does have a more interesting personality and she’s got her goals, but I’m still amazed in how she fell in love with Dongchan. Tsk, tsk. What did she see in him???? Probably his handsome face, because same.
The supporting characters were mostly boring, annoying, or hold nothing to the plot. From the villain to the producer to Miran’s ex.
Some scenes I liked though, were some heartwarming moments like Namtae and Miran reuniting. And the transition from the older to younger counterpart.
But my emotional connection with any major character was nonexistent.
I knew I shouldn’t trust this writer considering a certain disaster I disliked. I’m sad to see this as Changwook’s comeback drama. Such a waste of talent of this cast. Ugh. But maybe watch it if you like the actor/actress A LOT, the kisses, the uhh.. Uhhhh… uh.
Was this review helpful to you?
I first heard about it because it was officially competing at the Cannes's Movie Festival.
And then I saw that the great Park Chan Wook was the director behind it so I quickly decided to watch it.
BUT, neither did I read the summary first nor watched the trailer ... and maybe I should have had.
Don't get me wrong ! This movie is a masterpiece. But, I wasn't expecting that plotline AT ALL.
You should be aware that it gots some serious mature contents like SEX, BDSM and violence. You can feel really uneasy watching it. But that is the reason why this movie is so beautiful : the darkness and somehow weird feels matches so well with the love story. Some scenes are magical.
But just keep in mind that it is 18+ rated (basically 5 minutes of intense, non-stoping and not-really censured sex)
There is three major arks in the movie: the first two ones where you get to discover and even rediscover the characters and story from different point of views, and the third one where all of your answers are answered & the story ends.
This combination might seems odd to some viewers, as we sometimes get to rewatch the same scenes. But I personally find it really interesting.
The two main actresses are absolutely perfect. They convey all the feels of their characters in an emotional way. As it is stayed in the summary, they will both 'discover some unexpected emotions'. Lesbian relationship in Korean movies are quite unusual and I must say that this one is breaking down HUGE taboos. The geniuses of Park Chan Wook was to gamble on this idea, in a country where he perfectly knows that the critics will get fierce.
Thanks to a good casting choice, I personally think that he won his bet.
I was surprisingly amazed by Kim Tae Ri (Sook Hee)'s acting. She's new, It's her first movie. The idea of new fits perfectly her character. The way she acted was stunning. I want to see her in more things from now on.
Anyway if you're 18+, interested in some good suspenseful stories and open-minded regarding this movie love plot line, you will definitely enjoy it.
It's not Old Boy sure ...but it is The Handmaiden. They both have their qualities and universe.
Special mention to the ending song which was absolutely gorgeous ... kinda combines all of the feels that this movie gives you.
Was this review helpful to you?
Interesting storyline
Omg this has all the bells and whistels from a good fable or story. Has my favorite actor as well. Great hook at the beginning of the story to make you want to watch more. Sets are colorful to the eye and costumes are not over the top but are brautiful none the less. This director keeps it at a fast pace so it doesnt bog down in the middle. Well worth your time to watch and rewatch. Sets on this piece give it that xtra pazazz. Female lead is well matched to the actor and intimate scenes are believable could he have found his soulmate in real life?Was this review helpful to you?
