Poorly Executed Or Well-Written?; What’s Left To Say About ‘ A Beauty Of Revenge’ …
With a very short air time ( only five episodes), and an evidently cut duration length and budget by the producers of the fairly mixed-reception miniseries ‘ Multi Personality Girl’ ( the drama’s “ sister story”) , ‘ A Beauty Of Revenge’ was fairly predestined from the start towards having some evident flaws . However with its own take upon the “ revenge” cliche and incoherent plot twists in between, this does leave newcomers with one ultimate question; “is ‘ A Beauty Of Revenge’ actually worth watching? “
The drama’s initial premise was certainly interesting; a bullied girl Min Sun ( Park Min Sun) seems to change her appearance and identity to become Yeo Bin ( Jang Yeo Bin) and expose the sociopathic delinquent leader Ho Tae ( Son Ho Tae) as part of her revenge ploy.
The acting front of the drama was fairly good . Whilst admittedly certain line deliverances could be better than others, our main cast did add their own dynamic charm during key moments throughout the series. Yeo Bin’s darker secrets coming to light and her unreliability as a main character added a value of surprise for audiences by Jang Yeo Bin’s mannerisms captivating a sense of trust and believability within the female lead. Similarly Ho Tae’s sociopathic and megalomaniacal actions onscreen were captivated well by Son Ho Tae’s piercing gaze and sardonic expressions .
On the other hand ‘ A Beauty Of Revenge’ seemed to try too hard (even from the get-go )to brand itself as a “ shocking revenge tale” without always taking the time for the audience (and even the characters) to digest or understand the plot twists . For example there’s a major plot twist ( without spoilers) which occurs in the drama which whilst surprising , felt poorly-executed and lacked more drive and coherent plot reasoning .
In fact this was a major problem in the miniseries. Whilst it’s short duration length is arguably a pitfall for not having opportunities to expand out on these storylines in more depth, it’s undeniable that it doesn’t take a lot of time to interweave good writing techniques. ( One of the most evident throughout being foreshadowing. )As a consequence whilst the ending was certainly unforeseen, it lacked as much shock value due to feeling poorly-paced.
Ultimately with its short duration length episodes ‘ A Beauty of Revenge’ is easy enough to watch in one binge-watch sitting. Whilst the concept and of course the cast were undeniably the miniseries’ major fortes, the execution of storyline and plot twists lacked more finesse.
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This review may contain spoilers
A thai production which is not bad at all...
When I hear Thailand., WeTV and BL I just asume it will be maybe an ok show but this time even a thai production can surprise me. With actors from Korea (and from a korean web novel and filmed in Korea) they did create something different this time around.While a tropé of enemies to lovers or even amnesia is nothing new, the premise starts quite different and the title is misleading. They were never enemies, they just had a rocky road to be a couple. Some misunderstandings did prevail in their relationsship and the amnesia is an outlet to also solve them.
There are some inconsistencies with the amnesia story plot, because it seems the way from his rejection of his past and becoming a couple again happens to fast. Amnesia does not work like that. Also in the production I felt the café and the bar were lifeless which reminded me of Sukfilm/Truefilm productions when only two or three characters are in the scene at an made up location. It breaks the immersion and should have done better.
For their first main roles the MLs did a very good job, they had chemistry and worked very hard even when sometimes it felt a bit off. But compared to most other thai shows where characters are shallow, their characters had a story and personality. They both excelled at the silent moments and even with the kissing and NC-scenes.
So overall this was a good show. It's far from perfect but it's a pleasant departure from most of the other thai shows. While there is a high school part in it through flashbacks, it's a mature story. A story to grow together again and with some thriller elements (because it was not an accident). If you are tired of the same old, same old, this is a refreshing series to watch. One recommendation: You should binge-watch this series, watching one episode per week or even two epsisodes per week could make you confused because they have flashbacks through out the series to explain the past. For me it was not hard to follow but you will forget some things when you take a break for a longer time.
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Sweet Mutual Crush to Mutual Love Story ?
OMG, okay, I just finished it and I am LITERALLY screaming! 😭💖 It is so cute, it gave me actual butterflies!Here is why you HAVE to watch it, from a totally obsessed perspective:
• The "Long-Time Crush" Vibes: Ruan Yu (FL) is writing a novel based on her high school crush, and then—PLOT TWIST—she hires that same dude, Xu Huaisong (ML), to be her lawyer! It's that "I knew you when we were kids" energy but they are adults now! 👩❤️👨
• Miles Wei is TOO MUCH: Okay, I know dude is famous for being a "cold CEO," but here? He is so gentle and smart. The way he looks at her? 🫠 He is like a protective puppy, not just a boss.
(BTW, love love love Miles Wei! I swear dude is THE best for romantic ML roles 😭😭
• Hilarious Besties: The two best friend dudes are actually comedic genius. Their fast-talking banter in the background is the best part of some episodes, LOL. 🤣
• Visuals & Vibe: It’s super "fluffy" and lighthearted. Perfect for when you want a break from super dramatic stuff. Plus, the scenes with the "video call imagination" are actually pretty clever! 📱🎆
Cons? Ugh, the mid episodes dragged a bit with the "I’m not telling you I remember you" thing! I was literally shouting "JUST TELL HER!" at my screen! 😤 But it's worth it for the fluff later 💋😘
Overall Rating: 9/10 Butterflies 🦋—definitely watching again just for the cute scenes. Go watch it!!
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While it's mostly an episodic series, it manages to tackle a lot of issues that I think is important for the youth to think about even if it means character development and story is pretty much stagnant. From the teaser you practically already know who these characters are because they pretty much stay the same throughout the show. Even though it's like this, you can't help but root for the characters and love them.
I think it's a must watch because it raises a lot of issues and point of views and serves them all in bitesized episodes that are easy to digest and binge watch. It may not be that popular of a web show but it's a damn important one.
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KelpiView : They are my secret love too.
Overall impression:Hmm. My initial impression of the show is just that. Honestly, when it first started, it wasn't really on my weekly list at all. Though at this point, i do not know when i became so invested in it. The show itself starts slow, that i must say. getting past that slow start, is all it takes to make me into a obsessed fan and I truly appreciate the production crew in producing this gem of a show.
What I liked about it:
Great cast!
A good story meets a great cast, that is what i think My Secret Love is. Despite some of the cast member not having any experience under their belt like Bew (Park) and Por (Bear), as well as Kenji (Mai) and boat (Tim). They did exceedingly well portraying their characters. The leads are not very lovable at the start, that i must say. But the more i watch each week, the more that i like them for their character portrayals. However the supporting couples of this show totally stole my heart. all 3 of them lol.
Evolving Genre!
I initially thought this show could be tagged as a comedy due to the amount of laugh i had for the start of the show. As i mention, it started slow, but the only reason i continued watching it was because of the comedic elements that is present throughout the show. Tho, it was very comedy centric at the start which really helped in my opinion. As the story progresses, they showed glimpses of each couples backstory and trouble and that sets the mood for a concrete scenario in my opinion. The show should definitely be tagged as a rom com.
Awesome OST
As Im typing out this review, the ost from Jeff Satur (look) is playing in the background. That is how much i would love to give this song an honorary mention. It helps that its jeff satur. But the mood of the song itself fits well with the show that every time i hear the song, i would immediately associate it to the show.
What I disliked about it:
Slow Start.
No show is perfect in my opinion. as people we can never be satisfied fully. But that's really ok. One small detail that i wish could be done differently was the slow start, but that being said, its not a deal breaker for me as i enjoyed the comedy route that they begun with.
Inadequate ParkLee scenes.
Okay, this may be pushing it a little bit, BUT. hear. me. out. I just felt that there should be more ParkLee scenes in the show.... because.. just because.. i wanted more of them. lol. one of my favourite on screen secondary couple by far. their backstory was so cute. i wish they would make a story of park and lee in another series.
Did I enjoy it?:
I really enjoyed this one. as i mentioned, it started slow but really stuck on to me and i really enjoyed the ride.
Would I recommend it to others?:
Definitely. Though some people might be a lil bored of the university setting, but if you are ok with that and like a multiple couple show like me. and appreciate a good show, i think you should definitely give it a try! To me, a certain setting might not deter me to try a show because even though the setting is the same, its the cast that brings the character and story to life and that makes a whole lot of difference. So, if you have time and wanna be emotionally invested, give My Secret Love a try!
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A bond is a bond, whether forged in the innocence of youth or the wisdom of age.
I can't believe there aren't any reviews for this awesome movie! Even though I'm not the best at putting my thoughts into words, I'll give it a shot and try to convince you why this was such a fun watch.Imagine a gangster asking a 9th grader for singing lessons because his boss has this weird birthday tradition of hosting a singing competition, and coming last is a big no-no. Sounds crazy, right? But these two actors made it look like the most normal thing ever. You'd almost believe it could happen at your school!
This drama is about a sugary-sweet yakuza and a cold-hearted teenager who's the poster child for teenage angst and icy glares.
It's a quirky reminder that friendship can blossom in the most unexpected and peculiar ways possible. The story takes time to warm up, but as you notice changes in their expressions, you realise that, oh, they are totally into the BFF game now.
What's fascinating is that our teenage protagonist isn't your typical rebel; he's surprisingly cool-headed. On the flip side, there's another teen in full tantrum mode, plus a mature girl their age always trying to cool things down, showcasing the many shades of adolescence.
I enjoyed this movie a lot. There are so many fun moments, some literal god-level smart writing, and, of course, a totally heartwarming climax. I know my review is kind of wrapping up now when I hardly wrote anything but anything more than this can be a spoiler, and I don't want to steal your joy away.
Just to make this review a worthy read, I am going to tell you the most important thing about this movie, which is the post-credit scene. Please don't miss it, and look closely at the tatto on our sweetheart yakuza and smile like I did.
Now go and watch this gem right now, and please return and write a better review than me to attract more viewers, I believe in you hahaha.
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This review may contain spoilers
the script and acting went hand in hand and made this an interesting watch.
This was genuinely such an unexpectedly wonderful surpriseof a short drama. The whole premise being Stockholm syndrome × psychiatrist/patient × a weird 2nd chance romance kinda trope was honestly not expected. Like I don't really know how to explain it but as someone with a psychology background this was just-Both the characters being survivors of SA and dealing with the trauma in their own fked up ways was portrayed so intricately. How they both were each others medicine but also making each other worse, and just their codependency and the FL's struggle with the ML messing up her carefully structured "normal life" after escaping from him the first time. The ML being obsessively in love with her even when it was unrequited and a sllolid burden weighing on her did not stop him from trying to keep her to his side was done showing just enough crazy to make you realise that he's fked up without overdoing the crazy.
Nan Xiang (FL) played by Lin Zilin was such a traumatized, complex character and the way she portrayed it was top notch. Her trauma still making her a patient herself, she went on as the ML's psychiatrist, i feel that was coz girlie had some sort of a savior complex coz she did take it on as a challenge, but she just didn't expect to fall for him and his obsession was something she wasnt prepared for. The actress did such a good job, especially in the parts where her trauma surfaced and she had anxiety. She knew she messed up as she had taken the initiative in their relationship but she was alsothe one to back off when she realised how troubling it actualy was. I honestly liked that they gave her some sort of redemption here and there, like her jumping into the pool to save him once she got to know his trauma, and also when she came back for him even though she knew he was more than capable and that it was all his plan just to get her back.
Yu Tiandong (ML) played by Zhang Chi, as an actor this dude was fkn great, no lies. The portrayal of a character as complex but still simple in a way is genuinely not easy, but this man did a phenomenal job. First of all, i gotta say i have a crush on him, that hairstyle suits his crazy so well. Yu Tiandong being an SA victim and having developed bipolar disorder and fear of water was portrayed so well. And also the love this character had for the FL had me in the feels. Him wanting to in a way help her root out her past was honestly a bit messed up the way he went about it but also it was needed. I feel it was more of his guilt at having taken the money after his assault that was more traumatic for him, and he was just trying to protect her in ways he'd have liked to be protected i guess.
As a short chinese drama, the script was honestly so unexpected, especially since i watched it on YouTube titled "She fell for her psycho CEO patient, trapped by his love, escaped only to be stolen again and spoiled" so i guess you can see how i was expecting to have like 2hrs of brain rot, but instead ended up with one of my new favorites. I'm not gonna watch this again anytime soon since it is quite emotionally charged, but its something I'd recommend even with that title.
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The entire acting was pretty good to me as it felt real and had managed to bring me into the drama since i was quite hesitant to watch it at first, but the entire cast had me hooked!
Music was fit nicely as it played appropriately and had no weird 'mis-match' of it in each scene.
Re-watching it won't be a problem but the large amount of episode can be quite hindering but if to really re-watch it, it would be an amazing dream again.
Overall, it was really good and it had many sweet and tearful moments.
I recommend everyone to watch it!
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I was sorry to find out that this drama has not had high ratings in Korea and has not been viewed by many viewers outside Korea either. Although I can understand the basic reason of not wanting to watch people suffering I can say that it is a real pity not to appreciate all the effort that obviously went into the production, filming and acting of this drama. I think this is the best acting I have seen of So Ji Sub so far (and I have seen most of his well-known dramas) and especially in the last episodes he gave a performance that would have been higly worth an Oscar award if he had been in the US. But I also have to mention the other two main actors and in particular Yoon Kye Sang who played an incredible character who was strong and very generous.
So to summarize this drama focuses mostly on what friendship, comradeship and patriotism are all about but it also describes a very intense love story. I highly recommend the viewers to have a strong stomach and go through all the hardships that these poor soldiers went through and in the end...you will feel higly rewarded like I did!
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This review may contain spoilers
that life can be meaningful if we’re brave enough to let ourselves be vulnerable.
How do you cope with the loss of a family member? How do you tear down the walls you’ve put up to protect yourself from the outside world without crumbling under the weight of all the pain? And how do you ultimately learn to open up to the world again, and to form new connections and be vulnerable, with the awareness that, one day, they might leave too? Screened in competition at the 2021 Torino Film Festival, Aloners (Hon-ja-sa-neun Sa-ram-deul) deals with these and many more themes, from the struggles to process grief to the ghosts of the past that still weigh on our shoulders; from all the repressed anger that comes from a lifetime of buried emotions to the need to set boundaries with toxic family members; from how difficult it is to reach out and ask for help to the universal truths we keep hidden, such as the fact that life is often devoid of meaning and that we don’t really enjoy being alone all that much. Aloners is filmmaker Hong Sung-eun‘s (also the film’s writer and editor) feature directorial debut, but you absolutely wouldn’t think it was, judging by the complexity of its themes and by the sensitivity of a screenplay that effortlessly draws you in, crafting an atmosphere that is drenched in intrigue, mystery, emotion, and subtle irony.The film centres on Jina (Gong Seung-yeon, also in her feature debut), a woman in her late twenties who leads a repetitive (and highly relatable) existence: Jina works at a call centre, where she spends her time apologising to entitled clients who are often in the wrong, ignoring their insults, and accommodating their absurd requests. On her way back to her apartment, she walks on her own, her eyes glued to her mobile phone. At home, she lives by herself, and avoids interactions with her neighbours. She eats her dinner on her bed while watching TV and falls asleep not long after that, only to wake up the following day and have the exact same experience over and over again. In fact, not only has Jina managed to survive such a monotonous lifestyle for so long, but she’s also become exceptionally good at it: she’s currently the top employee at her workplace, due to how many phone calls she manages to answer (and endure) each day. But there’s a reason why Jina is so successful at being alone: quite simply, she has lost all interest in having interactions with others, be it her neighbours, her coworkers, or even her own family. Instead, she has chosen a life of seclusion and embraced the fact that her existence has no meaning.
But Jina isn’t the only “aloner” in the film. Her father (Park Jung-hak, of The Land of the Waves) also lives on his own, due to Jina’s mother’s recent passing, which left him a widower. His way of coping with his wife’s death is the opposite of Jina’s: he spends his days attending religious functions and turning his daughter into a scapegoat, guilttripping her into keeping him company and unloading all his guilt onto her to avoid facing the fact that he wasn’t present enough in his wife’s life. Also alone are Jina’s neighbours, a mysterious young man (Kim Mo-Beom) who attempts in vain to have a conversation with her every morning until he dies in mysterious circumstances, and a new neighbour, Seonghun (Seo Hyun-Woo, of A Taxi Driver), who rents the former resident’s apartment after his passing, and who’s temporarily on his own because his girlfriend believes his new flat to be haunted.
And then there’s Sujin (played by newcomerJung Da-Eun), a new employee at the call center that Jina has been given the task to train, and who keeps trying to befriend our protagonist, having just moved to Seoul from Chuncheon, where all her friends are. Through all these figures, not only does director Hong Sung-eun alert us of just how many people are living alone nowadays – so much so that the Korean term holojok has been coined to describe the people in the country who “prefer to be left on their own,” but also presents us with a story with more than one protagonist, each with their own distinct lives and points of view, and each with their own truths to keep hidden.
And there are quite a lot of unexpected things happening in Aloners, some more puzzling than others. There are tensions at Jina’s workplace, even more so after the balance is altered by the arrival of Sujin, as the newcomer’s enthusiasm and curiosity clash with the disillusionment of seasoned call centre workers who stopped trying to find any meaning or enjoyment in their job a very long time ago. There’s a demanding boss (Kim Hannah, of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) who can still relate to her employees, underneath it all, and there’s a neverchanging routine that is turned upside down the moment Sujin arrives, bearing gifts that will come to assume different connotations later in the film. But there’s a lot more than that. There are wills that don’t make sense, people who secretly spy on others but aren’t able to communicate without placing or receiving blame, and people who are trying their hardest to open up to others but don’t know how. And then there are things that might or might not be happening in places that may or may not be haunted, mentally ill time machine-builders who might actually be geniuses, and people who are gone but still very much present in the memory of others.
Even that description doesn’t do Aloners justice, as there is just so much condensed into the film’s 91 minutes screentime, and Hong Sung-eun’s assured direction and delicate writing ensures we are always shown, not told not just what happens in the film, but also what remains unsaid. Different viewers will get a different message out of the film, depending on their own experiences and mindsets as they go into the screening. There’s social commentary on modern life, as you might expect, but there are also moments of irony and mystery to keep you entertained, as well as fantastic performances by Gong Seung-yeon and Jung Da-Eun that will haunt you long after the credits roll. There’s the occasional twist you won’t see coming, and there’s a very well-crafted, complex father-daughter relationship that perfectly encompasses the kind of baggage that affects our every interaction with our family members. Aloners is a film about processing grief, learning to let someone go, and letting yourself feel, with the awareness that, once all the walls you’ve put up are broken and your defences are gone, there’s no going back.
Yet, to me, the film is first and foremost about the burden we all silently share as human beings, and the kinds of truths that often remain unsaid just because it would tarnish the facade we’ve spent all these years perfecting. We have become so accustomed to not having a reaction when someone hurts us, apologising when we should be insisting on being treated with respect, and defending ourselves when we should be apologising that we’ve forgotten how to be vulnerable, and how to accept ourselves for who we are. Most of all, we’ve forgotten that we’re all alone, underneath it all, and that every single one of us shares the same fears and uncertainties. By taking on a journey with Jina and the other “aloners,” the film ultimately shows us that honesty and acceptance are the answers, and that, if we are brave enough to share our baggage with the right people, we might be able to find this existence of ours a little more meaningful, after all.
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THIS IS ME BEING NICE
Cute cast - check! Unique storyline - check! Good location - check! But what started out as a promising fantasy rom-com slowly fell flat, and then fell harder on its ass with that lousy ending. Im giving it a 6 out of 10 and this is me being nice!The fantasy theme hooked me initially- after tens of high school and university themed BLs, I thought it was a breathe of fresh air. However, after the first episode when they tried to incorporate some cheap special effects, it became evident that they didn't really know how to utilize what was supposed to be its strength. The supernatural element was minimized that you almost don't feel it, until that brief moment in that episode when the cupid, Nite, disappeared completely (and that wonderful pink glow appeared again). By the end I was almost thinking if maybe the main characters Tae and Namwhan were just high on something and they just imagined the whole Cupid thing.
I love how cute the main actors were - Tee as Tae and Peace as Nite are so easy on the eyes and although the acting were a bit amateurish, i think they at least carried the show. Noey as Namwhan was also adorable and I loved that they didnt write the main female character as an annoying side show.
Also to be fair, although the story wasnt fully developed, I had a more pleasant experience listening to their lines - the script was written in a way that feels like the characters are real people, not actors acting in a drama.
Another good thing is the setting - Khon Kaen was such a wonderful background, and although at times it felt like a tourism ad, i still loved the way they showcased the city. Also, that brief moment in Chang Mai was mesmerizing to say the least. There was however, quite a lot of distracting establishments and product placements. I cant remember how many times they showed the Emma house model signage with its 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and 2 parking - i thought it was part of the cast.
I heard production was hindered by the pandemic, but I think what they should have done is waited a bit, to wrap the story properly with the same cast. The last episodes felt so detached and was filled with so many flashbacks to extend time- it was so obvious that they were just made to complete contractual obligations without really caring for whoever was left still watching.
And no, there was no real resolution to the story. When Cupid disappeared I was left heartbroken, and my heart hasn't healed properly, up to now. Id recommend skipping this one, unless you really, really need to watch something and there's no other option.
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To fight all this s***** life and actually work towards your dream is not an easy thing to do. What's harder is finding such a teacher. I was fortunate to meet such professors back in college and I'm trying to be that kind of teacher to my students -i'm far behind though- but not every one is as lucky as I was.
The student-teacher relationship in this film is so touching. It's the kind of special relationship I would love to have with my students but too scared to. To get involved into somebody else's life is terrifying.
The chemistry between the two actors in insane. No wonder they were dashing in Secret Door.
Kang So Ra was so cute. I loved her role.
No matter who was singing, the songs and music just went straight to my heart.
The story is so touching; I kept crying throughout.
There are many funny scenes which lighten the mood.
Perfect! Will definitely watch it again -though I never rewatch anything-
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So terrible, don't waste your time
What a mess!! They ruined the original story. The storyline is awful, it is so confusing because it leaves so many leaks. And don't get me start on the ending. ARGG. Anyway, they took out the diversity that exists in the original Jane the Virgin (ex. lgbt characters), the culture and turned into a traditional boring "save me" lady story where the main Female Lead is just passive and helpless. They didn't show anything about the pregnancy and the dilemas present in it. So, take the advice from a person who wasted her time: don't even start this drama.Was this review helpful to you?
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I first got into MARS because of Meteor Garden, which also starred Barbie Hsu and Vic Zhou. To be honest, I wasn't expecting much from the two of them. Meteor Garden was their first acting gigs, and I figured they didn't have the experience yet to be truly great. Boy was I wrong (and gladly!). The amazing depth with which they imbued their characters left me wanting more in the subsequent dramas I watched. Sigh...
Music/aesthetics wise - this drama was waaaaaay back in 2004, when taiwanese dramas had terrible funding, bad fashion (at least how we would consider it now), and different filming styles. Don't expect amazing packaging or cinematography, and expect most of the boys to wear their hair long. In this case I feel like MARS doesn't suffer from it however, since the character's personalities are the most appealing and strongest parts of the drama. There are two songs that are particularly gorgeous, but most of the other tracks were instrumentals and easily forgotten. Not that that's a bad thing (I'm looking at you Almost Paradise!).
A word of warning however - this drama deals with dark issues, and may contain possible triggers. I'd suggest looking up the summary before watching it, because I know that personally I watched it better knowing the general subject and plot.
Now where to find the next drama up to par with this one?
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