Editorials 
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?
When there is more representation I can be picky, but for now this'll have to do
In my humble opinion, this drama does not add up to the hype. I am thankful that South Korea has started making more LGBT dramas and movies, since it is a great step forward. However, I think we LGBT+ people have a tendency to go a bit crazy when there is any kind of representation, and we are so greatful for the scraps that we hype up stories that really aren't that good, and sometimes aren't even healthy relationships. I have seen a lot of student-teacher relationships, or age gaps that are not approperiate when it comes to gay stories. Where Your Eyes Linger is a portrayal of an unhealthy relationship between a "master and servant". Not only are they not equal, but Taejoo is actually mean towards Gook and uses his position and authority against him to deliberately make Gook uncomfortable. That is not the vibe for me.Moreover, I think that the acting was... awkward at best. It is very clear to me that the actors are uncomfortable and they have no chemistry. The one kiss scene was not really a kiss, just a peck, which would be fine if it wasn't the case with so many gay dramas and series. I just felt really forced to me.
But, just because I did not like this drama does not mean that I won't gobble up any other representation, however awful. I am in a desert and representation is my water. So I know I'll still be watching these types of dramas that I don't like until there is more representation with variety so that I can afford to be picky. I cannot wait until that time comes.
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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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Beautiful, heartwarming story about life choices and regret
This is a must-watch if you're in for a heartwarming love/family story without the stupid draggy drama tropes.Bound to give you some inspiration in life and some words of encouragement.
The premise is very simple: like the original US film 17 Again,
18 Again is about the male lead being unhappy with his life and his body suddenly goes back to when he was 18
So you have two actors (one "old" and one "young") playing the same character
and learning about what it means to appreciate the mundane daily life
and what it means to love someone even when real life gets hard
(but like, realistic "trying to make enough money to live" "trying to chase after your career dream" hard, not "chaebol mother kimchi slaps" or "ultimate bad guy is here to kill us all" hard)
10/10 to the acting because Lee Do-hyun absolutely slayed!
Playing a 40+-year-old soul in a 18-year-old body, he really did have that chemistry with his costar Kim Ha-neul
The way he looks at her with so many mixed emotions and the way the characters interact really makes me forget that Lee Do-hyun is a young new rising star.
Of course the other actors also added a lot to the story telling. I don't think there's a bad apple in the cast at all.
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This review may contain spoilers
Far from a perfect drama and yet it will pull you in right from the first scene. I usually do not watch melodramas or revenge dramas, but this one seemed interesting enough. This drama's strength lies in its plot, cast, the great camerawork and the TERRIFIC soundtrack!! I thought the plot of this drama was really creative. A lot of things introduced in the first episode tie up well towards the later half. The revenge part and the parallel investigation by the cop were wonderful. There was no need for romance in the drama according to me. It could have done well on its own. Although it can be a bit slow at times, it won't bore you.
Kim Nam Gil is the star of the whole drama. This is my first time watching him in anything and I must say, I was totally enchanted by him. He has an amazing screen presence and acts with such depth and emotion that its impossible to tear your eyes away from the screen. I will also mention his long hair and moustache- suits him rather well. :D His character was the type you would want to see in a revenge drama. He is willing to go to any length to destroy those who did him wrong. Of course, he is very, very human and you'll see his soft side a lot of times.
Kim Jae Wook was super likable in his role. I would love to see him play a tortured guy again. He was a breath of fresh air, because he wasn't your typical doormat second lead. Although he gets too repetitive after a while, I enjoyed his acting. Plus, he's great to look at! In fact both guys are eye candies.
Han Ga In didn't impress me. She's pretty to look at and wore fabulous clothes but her character was really fickle and annoyed me at times. Her part in the drama made no difference to me. She was interesting in the beginning but went redundant later on. Her sister was a far more interesting person and she was the only HILARIOUS person in this drama.
Although its one of those dramas which screwed its ending, I wouldn't say that it ruins the drama. The drama is worth watching minus the last 3 episodes. From the beginning I was prepared for what was about to come. If I hadn't known the ending, I would have been super mad at it. So I'd recommend to be prepared beforehand by reading the spoilers or skip this drama altogether.
Bad Guy's OST will probably always be in my Top 3 Kdrama soundtracks ever. Every single song is beautiful, melodious and will make you want to listen to it over and over. Even the background scores were amazing.
I liked how this drama was filmed. Its camera work managed to capture the right tone and mood of the story.
Though this drama is not meant for a rewatch, it was entertaining enough the first time around.
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Content Warnings: kick, maybe kind of something at the end?
What I Liked
- the friendship
- some of the humor was funny like the failed flirting with that girl
- cute moments
- that poor communication didn't drag on
- good kissing
- music, especially the rap song at the end
Room For Improvement
- the relationship/romance felt rushed, I think they could have cut out some other scenes and fleshed out more how/why they developed feelings with each other
- the ending is a bit open/wish they had gone a different direction with it
- how wearing glasses was considered less attractive
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Yet another saga of how power corrupts people who in turn corrupt others as well. An honest judge is forced to convict an innocent man. The convicted man's daughter who is a cop, decides to set things right. Things start off badly between the protagonists, but they gradually come to understand each other and work together. It starts off with a lot of promise, but it gradually turns out to be a tug-of-war. Expected things happen, but the audience are kept waiting in the tussle between (good and evil?)
The actors have done a decent job, but the major expressions in the drama are poker face and smirk, and not all of them seem natural. A bit more of joy would've been nice.
Rewatch value is kinda low for me. The last two episodes kinda killed it all.
It's definitely worth a one time watch, start with no expectations and you might be in for a surprise!
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In a nutshell: Great film for people who like quiet, thoughtful films. Avoid if you like fast paced movies or do not want to cry.
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The fact that the main character is so young really amazed me, I had no idea how old she was until after I finished watching Ma Boy, she does a great job and her acting skills are superb.
This is a very cute and light-hearted drama,and I will definitely be re-watching it sometime in the future, and recommend it to anyone looking for something short and sweet.
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Good but mismatched main leads
When I started this series I wanted to drop it because instead of chemistry between main leads we got feeling of older sister caring for her brother and forcefully adding the romance felt weird. Then I heard second leads get good chemistry and better romance than main leads could ever try to fake.As I watched it longer i started to like the story, fights and relationships between friends, comrades and family.
It would be better if they showed all fights instead of just showing animated pages of novel or manhwa, not sure what the series was adapted from. Not to mention when they made one fire saving scene half half so they made actors move but put a non moving walpaper behind them. It was as hilarious as it was lame.
Dilraba was perfect fit for female lead but in my opinion male lead should have been a bit older so we get some chemistry. Since Leo Wu was so young at that time neither of them could force it and it was clear as a day that she was like a mentor to him.
Overall series is good and it keeps you watching till the end. If you are here for the romance, you will get it but not between main leads, but between second leads yes.
After you accept disapointment in main leads "romance" ,show gets really good and second couple delivers instead.
OST is very good and hits you in the feels.
I gave it a 9 because i want to support good stories but it did have loopholes nearing ending of the series. It gave me a feeling like they hurried up to end it and didnt properly wrap out the Ashile tribe part of the story.
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This review may contain spoilers
Such a HUGE disappointment (do not waist time with this one)
It has been a long time since I posted a review. I've watched quite a few different dramas that I felt I had to go and write a review about it as soon as I finished watching, but I never did. This time I was so disappointed and frustrated with the ending to be more exact that I couldn't hold myself and I had to write about what I feel. I can even accept the fact that the writing was not that good when being a screenplay writer is part of the story line. I can even accept that there were so many things that felt short, unfinished, not even necessary, but to not even satisfy with a good ending or at least a more normal ending, that I have a hard time to accept. I considered Raphael first male lead and Kang Jae the second male lead based on the synopsis.First, I have to say that the connection between the couples was not quite there, or for me was not equally the same. Oh Woo Ri and Lee Kang Jae even thought they were dating for so long I really didn't feel them as a couple. Maybe because I didn't like the male, I didn't warmed up to him. Oh Woo Ri and Raphael I felt them a little bit more and maybe just because the way the part was written for them but I know they were not quite perfect either. They were talking about a first kiss, he was talking about believing that faith has somebody better for him and because the way they filmed the moments between the two, with all the memories and the dreams they both had and the fact that she even reached to kiss him first which she did not do with Kang Jae, made me believe that she liked him more or at least she was feeling more attracted to him. The connection between her and Kang Jae felt awkward and cringe worthy at times, like the time they hold hands in the car and then they said they have to go pray because they held hands for too long. I mean what the heck.......... what is that? With the relation between her and Raphael I thought since the writers were pointing out that he didn't grow up with the type of family he always wanted, they will give him the family he was dreaming of by keeping him together with her. But to my disappointment it didn't happened.
Second thing that bothered me was the way I felt the two male leads were portrayed at times, and to me it looked like they were both stupid.
Third and not last thing that bothered me, but this really frustrated me was close to the end when they were both trying to win her back it was not fair that Raphael did not get one chance not even one chance to talk to her alone, but Kang Jae did have that chance at the memorial of his parents. After that the next day at her mother proposal party she had her mind made up. That was not correct if you want to give them both a fair chance. And the whole complications that are going to arise from having the baby with one guy and being married to another guy. Why do you have to complicate that baby's existence? I don't understand why? If you emphasize the fact that the female lead and Raphael had a first kiss and then a baby together, than why don't you keep that baby's parents together? Why put it in the movie, if you are going to throw the connection between them out the window? Even more, they also emphasized the connection that was building between FL and Raphael with all the times he was there to save her, and they still didn't end up together. I really do not see the point of having those scenes. I've seen dramas before where I wanted the FL to end up with the second male lead, but this was not one of them because of that baby which she should have had her both parents. If you have the pen in your hand and you write the ending, then why not keep families together? For the FL lead since she was a virgin, she would have been better paired with a man that had more experience and proof is the honeymoon moment when you have two virgins trying to do the grown ups thing and just ended up being another cringe worthy - I want to throw up moment. And don't even get me started on the stupid friendship between Kang Jae and Raphael. That was another moment that I felt I was going to throw up. Really? Really? Really writer or writers? I mean you have them fighting over FL like two roosters just to make them best friends? Really? Really? I am shocked that this script was even approved to make it to the screen. I can just keep going on, and on, and on but I'm too frustrated and the drama doesn't deserve my energy to continue writing.
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