One of my most favourite dramas that I can watch again and again
First of all I dont really write reviews but since there are a lot of negative comments I decided to share my opinion. I absolutely love the story. Its not a drama that you can relax while watching. Its exiting and there are not any plotlines left opened. It kept me hooked from the start to finish. I cant really understand why anyone would hate this drama but perhaps it was not easy to understand the plot bc it was very complicated. You can get better understanding of it if you know at least a little bit about the butterfly effect or have an opinion on time travel. Perhaps marvel fans will understand :) It is science fiction after all.Was this review helpful to you?
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Cultivation, Revenge and Sang Sang
This was such a great drama watching experience. Ning Que and Sang Sang are one of my favourite OTPs now. My stingy, poor, ride or die babies. They were always 'the one' for each other even when they didn't know they loved each other romantically. Found family trope went hard in this drama and that's part of the reason why I love it so much. NQ and SS came to the capital with barely anything; just their big umbrella, knives to cut people up with and a hunger for revenge. And by the end, they both had other people who cared for them, protected them, took their hand to teach them how to make it into the Cultivation world, stood by their side no matter what and became their support. It touched my heart how the Tang Academy seniors helped NQ prepare for his big fight with Xia Hou, how First Senior Brother was panicking and thinking how to protect NQ in the final fight and how they trusted NQ to beat Xia Hou against all odds. Yan Se, Fu Zi, General Ma and the Grand Priest of Light all very different characters with complexities but each one a great teacher/guardian.Apart from the found family, I loved Ning Que's journey from being the weakest cultivator in the room to being Ke Haoran's successor and even by the end, he still has a long way to reach the top but for that I have to read the novel because Season 2 is, well... not good. Ning Que's journey to climb up the ladder in the cultivation world was filled with him begging powerful cultivators to teach him, only to be rejected again and again, him not yielding and striving again and again, finally becoming Fu Zi's disciple all while working to bring justice to his murdered family. Everything he achieved was so earned.
My favourite characters in no particular order would be the Tang Academy seniors (they are all so wholesome, it's hard to not love them), Chao Xiaoshu (he didn't appear for much time considering how it's a 60 episodes drama but he stole the show whenever he was on screen. what a man.), the teachers who taught NQ and SS, Tang Xiaotang (she's so full of fire and energy and dreams), and of course the OTP.
I wouldn't say it's a perfect drama but it has so much good about it that I could care less for the flaws. Highly recommend to anyone who hasn't watched it.
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A fast-paced yet cheesy drama with ALLL the tropes
This one is an ultimate trope land, but for some reason didn't get disgustingly draggy midway?It's like the scriptwriter looked at the typical tropes romance dramas have
realized 24 episodes is barely enough to contain all of them
so we just got all them tropes one after the other
The storyline is a bit choppy at times and you'll wonder if you missed half an episode somewhere
And really there are way too many villain arcs in this drama for it to make sense (both business and love line villains)
But overall I really liked the cheese component of the story
The two leads had a pretty good love line with many "vinegar-eating" scenes and steamy kisses
And the secondary couple are like enemies-to-lovers which is yet another well-loved romance drama trope
And everything moves at such a fast pace that well, at least you won't get bored from a slow draggy mid-late drama (you know those dramas where there's one misunderstanding and the leads don't talk for years)
And the business line is cool too if you let go of your logic a little bit.
If it weren't for that last episode I would give it a 8.5, but that final villain arc was just way too much
And if you like to see child actors, you'll enjoy the kid in this show. He real cute. The character kind of reminds me of the kid in Begin Again?
Final verdict: watch it to kill time, don't watch if you've got better things planned.
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From the beginning, the story put the focus more in the relationship between the female leads, Sun Mi and Young Mi, both had strong ambition, career-wise and everything they did was an effort towards that goal of becoming anchor-women. But is Young Mi jealousy of Sun Mi’s seemingly perfect life which causes Young Mi resolution to steal whatever Sun Mi has or wants. Their rivalry was a refreshing and intriguing thing to watch.
Throughout the drama is shown the contrast not only between this two women, but also in the romance between Sun Mi-Hyung Chul and Young Mi-Woo Jin, the sweet and pure romance vs the antagonist’s dark and tragic one.
As for the characters:
Sun Mi: she’s cute and bright without feeling annoying, and is by no means perfect, she’s gets upset and angry when provoked, and she even gets jealous.
Hyung Chul: Such a lovely leading man, his character was calm, honest and gentle. He’s true in his love and stayed true no matter what.
As for the character of Young Mi, I always enjoy a twisted and complex villain. Ultimately I have no sympathy for her but at least I get to understand her character and motivations. Her romance with Woo Jin is intense and dramatic, but dooms to fail due to the very insane and obsessed nature of their love: Woo Jin wanting to posses Young Mi and Young Mi willing to do anything to steel what Sun Mi cherish the most.
The acting: everyone did a great job portraying this rater complex character.
The music: true to be told, I don’t have any recollection about the sound track… :(
Overall, I would recommend this drama to everyone!
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A Perfect Ten! No Weakness At All In Term of Quality, Acting & Production Values
I never give any drama a perfect 10 but this drama 100% deserved it.This drama is seriously amazing. I have watch like gazillion of Kdramas for the past 15 years and I can safely said that the writing for this drama is the best that ever comes out from Korea. It is intelligent, excellently written and the clever details is just mind blowing. The writer is great at constructing plot without leaving any minor details. The script is tight, solid, complicated without plot holes and full of characters with great depth and personalities without including any questionable or dumb plot in its storyline. I have high expectation before watching the show but this drama truly exceeded my already high expectations. The writers made everyone, including the main character as the possible suspects and yet, she is still able to surprise us with the ending.
I feel like no other investigation dramas can hold a candle to this other than Signal. Other law or investigation dramas always bother me with the inaccurate technical practices and details but this drama have none of those and it didn't insult you intelligent either. It's simply a brilliant cat & mouse chase drama where both the good and the bad guys are clever.
SECRET FOREST IS PERFECT IN QUALITY SENSE -- I dont even know it is possible until I watch this drama. There's nothing to complain about the script, plot, directing and acting as it is that good.
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~Se Ra
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Story: I really enjoyed the story. It also reminded me a bit of the drama sassy go go. I enjoyed it mostly because it focused on the team being better at volleyball and working towards what they really wanted. Se Ra who at first didn't care to coach the team to help them be better eventually grew to care for them as a whole and continue her love for the sport. In addition, there was drama but none that was outrageously put to further the story line. Furthermore, this drama kept me wanting to watch from episode to episode. (Usually I take a break after some time)
Cast/Characters: When you put the characters together, there are some that shined more than others but altogether it was a well-built cast. Keep in mind, upon watching this drama for the first time, majority of the cast members were people i also was seeing for the first time.
My favorite amongst all characters is Woo Jin/Lee Tae Hwan. It was my first time seeing him in a drama or anywhere else for that matter. I think I fell in love with his character once I saw his smile.(I promise he's more than just eye candy though) I could feel the emotion through his character as he was affected by his father not believing him and as a second lead character.. well you know how that goes so I won't spoil it for you. His character did what he could as a leader to make sure the other players had the residence and even as a friend tried to protect Se Ra. The only small tidbit that I didn't like about his character that his feelings for Se Ra weren't explained that well.
Jae Woong/Song Jae Rim, also caught my attention as someone who cared deeply for the sport,for the team and for Se Ra. This was my first time seeing Song Jae Rim in a drama(i've only seen him in WGM) and I am so impressed that I need to go find his other dramas as well. I saw chemistry between him and Seung Eon (Se Ra's character) and I liked how the romance flowed throughout the drama. There wasn't any dragging as far as I was concerned.
Kang Se Ra/Hwang Seung Eon was a memorable character to me and im pretty sure ill be checking out her other dramas. I think she was perfect for the role of being sort of a spoiled celebrity or goddess of volleyball as they put it and then slowly becoming a part of a team again and letting go of that exterior.
With the secondary characters I really like the unity among them. Like a brotherhood with one sister that they have to look out for. I also really really liked the secretary. In the beginning she is perceived as a heartless human being but towards the end she gets better and a funnier addition to the group. At first you could tell she didn't care for Se Ra and it was just a job to her but towards the end she became someone who looked out for her sincerely.
Music: Not much music in this drama besides the theme song and the ending/cliff hanger song. But I think that even without the music the drama was still really interesting. Music creates excitement but the actual drama itself had enough excitement where the lack of music was barely noticeable.
Overall: Should you watch? Yes. Although the drama was short and you'll breeze through the episodes, it was a really good way to spend my time. It's a light drama with some sports action and some romance all together. I think the fact that it is short also adds to the reason of why you should watch :D The end was a bit lacking but altogether it fit nicely.
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My fav drama from 2023; Nojima Shinji is back with a bang!
A stellar combination of mystery + romance + psychological + slice of life.First off, Nojima Shinji is one of my favourite screenwriters and I hate to admit that some of his works in the recent years have been underwhelming especially when we compare to the gems he wrote in the 90s and 2000s.
I don't generally write reviews but I got inspired to write this review because I loved this drama so much and want more people to see it.
What makes this drama so good -
(1) the screenplay; the way the story unfolds keeps you on the edge of your seat till the last scene. Trust me, you won't know where it is going.
(2) the story - it is original, it is creative, it is edgy. Once you start, you will find yourself binging it all the way.
(3) the writing; the sensitivity and care with which the characters and their relationships are written. I could see Nojima Shinji has evolved because this wasn't as dark, and there was a healing element to it (something most of his dramas lack)
(4) the acting - each cast member was perfectly casted.
(5) the romance - again, not your typical romance. But some of the scenes between the leads got me squealing. In the case of this drama 'less is more' really worked.
Everything about it is good. The only reason I gave it a 9.5 is because I do wish we got a little more of the leads' at the end. I wanted more of them. Hoping we'll get a special on them, though I doubt :(
For those who want to watch something different, don't hesitate to give this gem a try!
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1Pass The Verge of Excellent
On The Verge of Insanity is probably one of the best dramas of this year. From the beginning the audience is asked to settle in for a story with a gentler pace and eased into the world of the Hamyeong Electronics. Anchored by two interesting and very different leads in Mr Choi and Miss Dang ( wonderfully performed by Jung Jae Young and Moon So Ri respectively) the show transcends it's loose synopsis and becomes something more.An engaging watch littered with characters you'll care about (one you'll particularly hate) and scenario's that seem real though
with consequences sometimes questionable. There's a lot to love in these 16 hours.
Writing wise this shows is aided will by the sense of movement within the story. Of character entering positions and exiting, climbing the corporate ladder and being dragged down. Where shows in a similar vein like Misaeng lean more into ironing out business jargon, OTVI while not dismissing those, puts it's character and interpersonal drama to the forefront. Which in a few instances might have been to the detriment of the other. Those instances are few however and hardly weigh this story down.
It goes without saying the cast delivered excellently on their performances. Firmly lead by seasoned veterans particularly personal favourite Jung Jae Young and established if not before certainly now younger talents.
Visually, the show is solid with a few particularly beautiful shots and nice colour grading that adds quite a bit more visual interest. Admittedly to a story that would not have realistically demanded much grand cinematography. It's all the more interesting then that this is the work of a first time director yet nothing feels amateur about it.
Musically the show was pretty inoffensive with quite a few but no standout insert tracks to me at least. The stand out track was the jazzy outro track which will most certainly get stuck in your head.
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Definitely sweet
So there is nothing new to this story, it's childhood friends turns to lovers kinda thing. Yes, full of misunderstandings, cheeky handsome male lead and charming hardworking female lead.Well than you might ask me: "why so highly rated then?"
- Because Leo Luo and Bai Lu deliver the best couple of Chinese drama of the year (Oh the romance is heavenly, and they did not spare on the kiss scenes or PDA).
OMG the chemistry was FIRE!! And while the plot is, in deed, a bit cliché they keep you interested in the drama.
There isn't too much angst, and the problems/misunderstandings are all resolved pretty quickly, so you don't get bored and you also don't get the feeling that the drama is dragging.
This is a lighthearted drama, that wraps all lose endings, that you should not miss.
Even the secondary couple is cute (Jun's best friend, Xu Li, is so nice and their friendships is really great and relatable), so you get your time worth even when the leads are not on the screen.
Yes there are bad parts (but honestly, all dramas have them) but they are not bad enough to put you off watching the drama, and they probably help the drama to get momentum and move the plot forward.
It was definitely worth my time and there are scenes I'll definitely comeback to watch again.
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This review may contain spoilers
Gay subtext meets historical drama
"She already knows how to make women fall for her without consciously thinking about it ..." (episode 6, 17:43)"I never knew those two [girls] could have such chemistry, they're bringing out the best in each other" (episode 6, 51:47)
"Jeong Nyeon" is more than a glimpse into a woman-centric world of acting. The setting of a woman-only theater that positions women as both the objects and subjects of romantic desire naturally lends itself to a subtextual exploration of same-sex attraction. It's a glimpse into the potential for better gay representation in Korean media
Though the production team’s decision to remove Jeong Nyeon’s female love interest (Kwon Bu Yong) and the explicit same-sex romance is a regrettable concession to society's homophobic expectations (they should've done better), the drama remains commendable for its efforts to integrate elements of gayness throughout the narrative. I was impressed by everyone's performances
"The stars that graced the gukgeuk stage went on to continue their paths as artists, pansori singers, outdoor theatre performers, or even film actors. They have merely dispersed, not disappeared"
That the curtain has fallen on Maeran's story need not spell the end for female gukgeuk. The genre deserves to rise from the ashes, and girls/women should have the chance to soar on its stage again
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First, I found the topic of weightloss very interesting. I think they did a good job of covering all aspects such as positives and negatives of weightloss as well as her losing weight both in an unhealthy and healthy way. I know I learned a lot from watching the show. I did think it was annoying that she rebounded many times throughout. I think it was more than 4 times or something. Watching all the cakes being made really made me want to make some as well. They were so pretty and looked like they tasted like heaven. The ending was cute.
The acting was superb especially by the female lead. I thought the character was annoying and outrageously naive at some parts but it just showed what kind of an actress Saki is. Mokomichii was cute as always but his character was over the top as well. Somehow though they both make the perfect couple and complete each other. I liked the supporting characters they really added something.
Overall Rebound is silly but also serious at the same time. I rated it so high because I love the cast and it was very very entertaining.
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I was in the mood for a scary flick and happened upon this. Not recently, but in the past year I had watched this movie called Gone with Amanda Seyfried. The story-lines sound almost identical. Younger sister gets taken, older sister goes to find her on her own because the police think she's crazy. So I was expecting a movie like that; some jump scenes, a little who-dun-it. What I got was a freaking intense, gory movie. The plot was great and the actors did a fantastic job. Obviously something like this where you already know what happens is hard to re-watch with the same effect. (Although I don't think I'd ever want to re-watch it anyway) because man was the killer sick and twisted. So if that sounds interesting, give it a go.
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Extraordinary
My favorite kdrama of all timeI have watched lots of kdramas which are really interesting but trust me on this one, Infact when I am being asked to recommend a kdrama for someone, the first kdrama that comes to my mind is "goblin", it isn't my first kdrama but somehow I can't forget it. Everything in this drama was on point, the acting skills, OST, story line, chemistry between both ML's and the second lead's.
If you're looking to watch something funny at the same time heart warming, romantic, exciting, almost realistic despite the fact that it is fantasy, you should definitely watch goblin
+ If you want to have a good cry too lol, it is worth every bit of your time.
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A great watch
If I had to summarize this drama in one word, I'll be - fillers. In my opinion, the story was stretched unnecessarily, and it felt like forever, rather painful to watch through certain scenes. It got so annoying at one point that I nearly considered dropping this drama. Adding to that the whole age gap thing just felt pretty weird to me, the kissing scenes pulled the whole 'romance' out of the scene. I just couldn't take the 'love' part seriously for the first couple of episodes, it just felt very out of place? I dropped this after episode 13. But alas, I eventually had to go back. The awesome soundtrack and acting couldn't get out of my mind. The top-notched 'bromance' kept getting me curious about how the Reaper-Goblin relationship will grow and bloom into Episode 16.For my money, the story was pretty decent. The bromance and the funny scenes added to an amazing experience. The acting was phenomenal and I LOVED every part of it. I'd be lying if I say I didn't want to see more of the story centered around certain side characters. Some felt like they deserved more screentime. Kim's General's reincarnation is a good example. Seeing his story, him happy with his family, living in comfort, possibly with Kim looking at him and iconically smiling would've been pretty satisfactory. The Reaper and Sunny scenes towards the end were SATISFYING. The best part after the bromance.
Goblin decided to have an open ending, which I would say was a pretty good idea. Despite wanting to know more about what happened to Goblin and the bride after they met again in Canada. I believe the open ending was more effective in leaving a strong impression on its viewers than a closed one. Ultimately being one of the elements that helped the show get a strong ending. Lastly, I wish there was some form of indirect interaction between the Reaper and the Goblin towards the very end. Leaving a "Some friendships are so strong, they can even transcend lifetimes" taste in the mouth, but well, guess it's too good to be true.
I didn't initially plan on giving a high rating to this drama on MDL, but I am an emotional creature and the last 2 episodes got me good.
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