This review may contain spoilers
Buckle in, this is LONG; if you don't want to read, at the end, there's a TL;DR.I rarely get emotional over dramas (the only one that's ever made me cry was the Untamed, and I credit that to excellent story writing and Xiao Zhan's acting). And although this drama didn't make me cry, it definitely made me more than a bit emotional.
There's spectacular character development throughout the entire thing. Although flat characters remain rather flat-- for example, Chong Li Ming's father, or his brother, or Xiao Hong--, it's a good thing. It brings more liveliness into our center characters, making them rounder and more full. Chong Li Ming's character isn't a male "Mary Sue"-- he struggles with a lot of issues, such as breaking away from the past as well as letting people go. Ah Yi's character is probably the closest we get to a "Mary Sue"-- he's a better fighter than Chong Li Ming, he's morally upright, he's incredibly kind, and he's committed to his friend. (And Jackson's acting is amazing in this!)
The cast is well chosen and honestly they're amazing together. They have fantastic chemistry together, especially Yu Chu (Hu Bing Qing) with Ah Yi (Jackson Yi). Admittedly, Yu Chu (Hu Bing Qing) is a bit more awkward with Chong Li Ming (Huang Zi Tao), but it works with her character design (to be honest, I'm not 100% sure if the awkwardness is engineered into her acting intentionally or not, but either way, it works really well with the story as well as her character design).
I especially enjoyed the following characters' acting: Yang Zhen (June Wu) (his character is listed as a side character, but honestly, he's more of a main character than Marie), Ke Yan Xin (Liu Yuan), and Xiao Ke (Li Jun Mo). Yang Zhen's character actually made me hate him so much, which is credited more to the actor, June Wu, then the writing (because you can have a well written story, but if the acting is poor, the character will fall flat). Ke Yan Xin's character starts off as very lovable, but then becomes a less lovable character, which the actor carries well with grace and it's very well integrated. Xiao Ke's actor, Li Jun Mo, also does a spectacular job. Although his facial expressions are a bit recycled, he does fantastic nonetheless.
Honorable mentions: Wa Ge Na (Richards Wang), Hua Jiu Qing (Ning Xin), Marie (Ma Li, actor: Miranda Ma)
I'm going to loop back a bit to the story, as I've gone on a LOT about characters. The story is spectacularly written. I see a lot of people get upset because this was a BL story originally, but what did you expect? It's China, so they're going to have to write that out in order to air it. However, unlike the Untamed, it's far more subtle; it's written more like a bromance rather than having romantic undertones. Nonetheless, it's a very well written story, with overarching themes of loyalty and growth and bromance (there's a LOT of bromance).
The music is pretty good as well, especially paired with the more emotional scenes.
TL;DR: It's good. Watch it. Please. Acting, music, story- all superb. If you don't want to because it took away the BL aspect, know that this is still well written enough to be its own story. If you don't want to because of its length and fear of it being dragged out: it's not and honestly, quite binge-able.
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In the beginning I wasn't sure if I should start watching this drama but I decided to give it shot because of the cast and because I really enjoy watching detective dramas, though this drama wasn't the best out there it definitely didn't disappoint me.
STORY: The story wasn't anything new or magnificent but the "two-souls-in-one-body" thing brought some fresh air to the story.
The thing that I disliked the most was that the story became a little draggy and boring in the middle and I was actually thinking about dropping the drama but it got so much better towards the end.
The thing that I liked was the comedy and humor in the drama, I loved how the thungs and the cops were friends and helped each other out.
ACTING\CAST: I loved the acting in this drama, except for Hyeri but I don't think it was the acting that I didn't like it was the character that she portrayed. I loved the casting, especially the two male leads, they fit their roles perfectly. Kim Sun Ho is a newbie in the kdramaland but his acting is really good and the same thing goes for Hoya. Jo Jung Suk can have chemistry with a potato so that wasn't the problem here but I liked the chemistry between the second couple more.
It was the first time I ever saw Im Se Mi in a drama and I really like her now.
BROMANCE: I'm a sucker for some good BROMANCE and this drama didn't disappoint. It was that kind of "Hate-to-Love" bromance between a conman and a detective. Their interactions were super funny to watch and as partners, they were perfect for one another. Gong Soo Chang became like one of my favourite charactesr ever.
ROMANCE: There wasn't that much romance in this drama. I didn't really care about the main couple they were kinda ordinary but the second couple is what I totally loved, they were so cute together. So don't worry romance lovers!
MUSIC: The music was pretty good, I liked all of the OSTs, they fit the drama well. The music wasn't annoying or distracting, I liked how this one melody\sound started playing everytime something exciting was about to happen.
REWATCH VALUE: I would definitely rewatch this after some time, when I forget what exactly happened in the drama. One of the reasons for rewatching would have to be the bromance and the romantic relationship between the two supporting characters.
Overall, if you are looking for something with good bromance, you should definitely watch Two Cops!
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I liked the story it was compelling and well thought out. The dialogues particularly resonated with me. I really admired the direction and cinematography too, as it took risks at times and was little unusual for a sageuk.
It was interesting to see the story from the servants perspective, all too often in sageuks the servants are just minor background characters and here we see their daily struggles, desires and hopes.
The acting of the whole cast was brilliant. The only exception being Oh Ji Ho who was quite wooden and emotionless throughout, (I have seen him in other dramas and he is similar) although it suited his character somewhat in this drama so I am willing to overlook it on this occasion.
Special mention to Jung Yoo Mi who was outstanding she played the character of In Yub perfectly. She goes from being a rich, privileged young woman who has a dramatic fall from grace and becomes a servant when her father is accused of treason. She managed to imbue warmth into her character so that even when she was rich and conceited you still felt affection for her, It felt like she wasn't evil or malicious but rather ignorant and oblivious to the plight of others around her. She really comes into her own when she falls on hard times and her struggle and endurance is admirable.
This was my first time seeing Kim Dong Wook act in a drama. He played Eun Ki and I am very impressed with him. His character probably went through the most upheaval next to In Yub and his nuanced performance stole the show. Part of that was the writing, he was given some wonderful poignant lines but of course a lot hinges on the delivery, in which he excelled!
There aren't any songs in this drama which is unusual for a sageuk as they tend to have ballads but the music that is used throughout is beautiful and fits very well.
Overall if you like sageuks this is one of the best that I have seen. I cannot say anymore without spoiling :)
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Definitely my top 5 of 2021 drama
Have to say I’m not really into drama with time traveling, or body switch. But this drama have make me took a different turn, it’s not just funny or hilarious but the characters. They definitely play there roles right, and it definitely matches the characters they have play. Have to say they not only make this drama funny, but it’s the people who played the role that makes people into this drama, because they did an amazing jobs. Gotta say this drama is my top 5 of 2021, great cast and great rolesWas this review helpful to you?
Time travel done right
This is not your ordinary K-drama.I'll tell you what it's also not. The Atypical Family is not a tiresome rom-com that shambles zombie-like into a melodrama morass by episode 8. Instead it rather delicately shifts through various shades of crime caper and dark comedy with clever little twists before it hits the romance that it promises to be. It's self-aware and addresses obvious tropes with almost fourth-wall, existential humour. It manages to use time travel coherently and does not insult the viewer with unnecessary time gaps and pointless makjang.
The casting was very good at all levels and the actors delivered. I thought that the marriage fraud gang were the best of the bunch. Choi Kwang-rok was unrecognizable in a good way. Kim Su-hyun wore both the fat suit and the several iterations of her character with remarkable style. I did not find the leads truly exceptional but they were good enough and played off each other well. All of them were helped by the fact that the writers took good care of the characters and allowed them to develop their own stories so nobody was acting in a void.
The Atypical Family does many things very, very well. Above all, it does not outstay its welcome and doesn't try to scrape four more episodes off the cutting room floor.
This is what it feels like when a show's producers and writers respect their work and their audience. For that, this tough audience will rate it a solid 9/10 and will recommend it to pretty much anyone with time on their hands.
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1Don't watch if you are not a JaFirst fan.
The only reason I watched Be Mine Superstar up until the last episode is because since Ja left 888 Entertainment , it'll be difficult to see him in a series with First again. To me, Be Mine looks like their last work together 🥺 I do hope to be disappointed in the future.The 2nd couple was just there for the NC scenes 😭 literally no bonding moment between them. Each and every scene between them is just the two of em, fucking.
Anyways, it's a 5/10 (because of JaFirst) If you're not a JaFirst fan, I don't recommend.
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It starts off pretty slow for the first fifty episodes or so. There are twists here and there, but it wasn't anything gut-wrenching that made me shake my fist at the screen (a fairly common occurrence during a good drama for me) or cry like a baby. At times, I felt like the series dragged on, stretching an issue out over several episodes when it could have been just as easily explained in one, sometimes even half an episode.
As I said, though, around episode fifty I could feel things starting to heat up, and once the numbers hit the sixties things really set on fire. The revenge, the desperation, the feelings of utter helplessness when it comes to helping your most beloved person wade through the tides... It all seemed to just explode. For me, that was well worth the wait and watching all the episodes before. Some characters that I had previously wondered about the overall purpose of now showed great inner conflict and the reasons for certain behaviors were explained in a way that nearly wrenched out my heart.
Overall, I felt the leads did a fantastic job portraying their characters. While the story may have dragged on a bit, the actors themselves rose to the challenge, portraying their characters surprisingly well even after so many episodes. Sometimes even after twenty episodes I'll find that someone will slip up in their character on drama, but the leads here really stuck to it well. Very good show.
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Worried this will 'ruin it'?
Worry no more! You will LOVE it!
Never heard of the manga or the anime?
Worried this is far from what you are usually used to in a drama?
Worry no more! You will LOVE it!
A hilarious yet strangely moving story about the how a love of music can bring together people of contrasting personalities on a journey of epic self-discovery. Sounds cheesy but fellow sceptics, worry not! This drama is a joy to watch. Just stick with it and I promise you won't regret it.
In their roles, Tamaki Hiroshi and Ueno Juri bring to life complicated characters in such a way no manga/anime enthusiasts can fault. As with any adaptation, there are tons that could go wrong; from executing the story to getting right the casting/acting. Furthermore, the hardest thing to do is maintain the 'feel' of the original piece of work which was drawn or animated. This is hard to do this without making the drama look tacky or overacted. Nodame Cantabile however, managed to really capture the point of 'live action' making this drama a perfectly complementary to the manga/anime. Yet it as a stand-alone it somehow manages to remain accessible and enjoyable to the general public.
The incredibly colourful supporting characters are just wonderful to watch, with enough screen-time to keep things lively and interesting, yet not too much to keep us from enjoying the story of the two wonderful leads. The progression of the story is perfect, not too slow to become a drag and not too fast to hurt the overall impact of the drama.
The slapstick humour is so well-executed that you can't help but laugh out loud (even if you saw yourself as having a more 'sophisticated' sense of humour). The blend of comedy and serious drama is flawless and there is enough to please those who look forward to tearful emotional scenes. What can I say, the drama caters to variety of people! If you know a thing or two about classical music, you are bound to enjoy the wonderful pieces portrayed. And if you don't, you'll be surprised to find yourself with a new sense of appreciation for it.
I can't sing enough praise for this drama. It is far from typical, effortlessly funny and uplifting. Great chemistry between the entire cast, tons of memorable scenes and wonderful use of music.
For lovers of music, comedy and drama, a definite must see. And for those who have doubts about whether this drama is their cup of tea Broaden your horizons and give it a go.
You could be pleasantly surprised. :)
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This review may contain spoilers
Only the love between parents and children is for separation.
This 20-episode drama took me by the neck and gave me a ride on the emotional rollercoaster. the synopsis confused me so much that it actually made me want to watch this and it was such a treat though I went into it with no expectations at all since there's not much drama about time travel that did it right or somewhat logical at least this one even with little knowledge about time traveling theory it would still make sense.okay so with the vital part of the drama (for me) Qi shuo, that character was the super glue of the drama, I would not trade Liu yitong to any other actor he made Qi shuo the lovable character that made me love the whole drama. He was a son, the one that would cross the mountains, sea, and time and space for his mother and liu yitong managed to portray that for us. Like what they say in the drama 'All love in this world is for gathering, Only the love between parents and children is for separation.' he loves his mother so much that he was willing to sacrifice himself just to make sure that her mother would live differently from the current time that she was in.
Qi yue and Lu xiao, are really destined to be together, or at least now the odds of favor are on their side. knowing the little tidbits of their 2031 selves, Lu xiao took care to Qi shuo and Qi yue with probably some limitations but Qi shuo gave them the push and the reason to take care of each other in the near future (also betting my fortune that 2031 Qi shuo prolly saw Lu xiao as a father figure in his life)
this will sound and feel weird but the trio did really have the chemistry of a family (yes even with being adults), you can perfectly picture them as that harmonic family. the amount of chemistry they have are so adorable.
The sacrifices, feeling of belonging, a family they will call their own, finding and reaching a dream, and realizing a probably 'childish' wish. The drama delivered that all even with just 20 episodes.
is this the best drama? tbh it's all base on personal taste but this one is worth giving a peek.
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Started this for Ji Chang Wook & Finished/Loved for Song Yoon Ah ❤️
I have known about this drama since it released in 2016 - but while the action scenes & chocolate abs of JCW were encouraging, the whole angle of romance & Yoona's acting was simply terrible that I did not pick this up. Finally in 2024, I relented and decided to give it a go. As expected - the best thing was JCW and all his action and solo scenes. But the biggest surprise and hooking factor was his electrifying chemistry with female antagonist/second lead - Choi Yoo Jin played by the talented - Song Yoon Ah. They redefined "frenemies" & left me wanting for more . . .❤︎ LOVED:
➥ Je Ha (ML) & Yoo Jin (SFL):
I can understand why there are so many fanfictions and petitions hoping to have a spin-off to have them together as the leading romance pair. They are enemies-turned-allies in the show and every interaction is so well acted sometimes simply without words, that you just want them to rip each others clothes off and make steamy love that generations would write/read about. They were literally too hot to handle and this is without any actual romance between them. Both, in a single frame were just too mesmerizing, the chemistry off the charts - perhaps one of the best ever, and definitely the best between such roles.
➥ Action Scenes & JCW:
Those who are aware of his other works know what a great actor JCW is and the action sequences were directed well. They may/may not have gone with the plot, but it was entertaining to watch though gets repetitive over the latter part of the drama. Pure blockbuster effects, and with JCW executing it - it was flawless. The time that I delayed watching the show was compensated over the years by unhealthily rewatching the "bathhouse fight" and "shirt changing" scenes - and I am going to continue doing that on YouTube, without the need to rewatch the show.
❌ DISLIKES:
➥ The FL and Romance:
Yoona was completely useless - in terms of her character usage in the story, acting, chemistry with JCW - basically everything. JCW was carrying the romance, she was the stiff cardboard with no inputs - being used as a ragdoll. Personally - I would have liked this drama more if she was a minor character [e.g: just a young girl (aged 3-4)] and needed protection from JCW's character OR just done away with her character + romance altogether.
➥ The Plot:
It was too generic - not engaging or without unique twist/turns, with boring political talks/drama and of course the unnecessary romance. The acting of JCW, Yoon Ah, Sung Ha, Gab Soo and Dong Mi were the ones that carried the drama but they were caught in a mediocre storyline. It had a promising start but faltered from the middle.
➥ SUMMARY:
This is a delectable guilty pleasure drama - to be indulged for Ji Chang Wook's acting, action scenes and fan-service. He's one of my ultimate bias and he served. The soul of this show was Song Yoon Ah - her acting making me want to rip her mouth or feel pity for her character was flawless. And of course their sizzling chemistry was everything. This drama is over and I would not rewatch it except for their scenes, but am going to read the fanfictions about them, maybe even write one myself to satiate this unmet desire this drama has given me. They were THAT good.
So if you like all the above - with some blockbuster action, go ahead and give it a spin.
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Don’t get the wrong picture, I like brainless action and all but it’s a fact that not every director can make it entertaining. I have my specific short list of directors that I would gladly watch their action productions anytime and Go Ohara doesn’t belong to that list Instead, he made a respectable piece of work that doesn’t wholeheartedly depend on action and guns’ play.
This film has more sides to it than the action part. The story of a cold-hearted assassin thinking twice about his life because of a girl is not original in any way but this isn’t exactly a romance, the core of this film is the friendship. Ryo and Misaki’s bromance is priceless, especially after the revelation of their past relationship and the way they survived together; that was probably my favorite part of the film. The acting may not have been the best, seriously it was unbalanced at many points but the main characters were good enough to make the whole department satisfying and the film watchable.
Action wise, this film is low leveled; it’s not because the lack of action but many moments seemed fake. An action lover doesn’t look for realism when watching the genre but it doesn’t have to be plainly obvious like that. Some fighting scenes were uneven and incoherent but the shooting angles and techniques made it up for the bad guns’ play choreography.
The ending of this film was quite expected; I’ve seen that kind of finale repeating in many similar films that’s why I had some hope that it will end otherwise. This is not a fluffy storyline and I consider that a strength point.
Watch if:
-You’re looking for a decent Japanese action film.
-You’re in the mood for action but not the shallow type.
Do not watch if:
-You’re looking for something fluffy.
-You’re looking for a romantic story.
An Assassin is a good action films that stands out a little from the usual Japanese norm. It’s not a masterpiece but it’s definitely a nice watch.
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This review may contain spoilers
My two cents on peoples interpretations
As with all art - films and so on, people will interpret this series in their own way. As we are humans we pull from our own closest experiences and empathy to understand the characters on screen. I feel this is why there are such hard black and white lines with the like or dislike of this series.I feel both characters were portrayed amazingly by each actor ( I was very excited to see Jae Bum from Choco-Milk in a dark dramatic series and am really really looking forward to what else Wooyoung will do ). Many people say the story line wasn't clear, or the whole series is confusing. I don't agree, you just have to pay attention, they are telling you everything you need to know. Because I want everyone to love this series I will spell it out for you haha. Or more so..this “review” will be "what was their relationship at the beginning" and Yoondae in general, since most people seem to dislike him the most. Get ready for a whole character analysis baby.
It was clear from their "first interaction" that SooHyuks mom was marrying YoonDaes father, who is abusive (aka- for a time they were step brothers - this is why he calls Soohyuk "hyung" at the beginning. He explicitly says so in the scene. The direction of shots that portrays the abuse Yoondae goes through is beautifully done, from the scene where Soohyuk sees the bruise on his neck, to the band aid seen with the cut and soon to be black eye. I prefer and LOVE when shows don't spell everything out in complete dialogue, because that is not realistic. The scene of Yoondaes father at his school saying to just drop out, the fear that Yoondae portrays as he's backed into a corner, waiting for the other shoe to drop. The emotional and physical abuse that Yoondae experiences and still does is clearly shown- there wasn't a need to show a literal scene of the abuse.
So although he "got away" by moving out and couch hopping, abuse like that does not leave you. Like Yoondae shows, you are lost, not knowing the next step to take since it was always decided for you. Yoondaes habit of lying is clearly driven from this, since even if it's pity that is given to him, at least it is some sort of love and attention. This in turn makes him want to test his boundaries in a twisted way, pushing people to their limits somehow makes sense to him. He wants someone to care and to fight for him, but everyone just leaves. His inherent loneliness is clearly shown with his constant hang outs with his friends, not wanting to leave his friends job because he wants to wait for him. His friend even says "you know that's weird" and Yoondae agrees and clearly knows he has attachment issues. Although it is not said or portrayed, the LACK of Yoondaes mother tells us all we need to know. She is either dead or long gone from their family, this most likely is a reason for his attachment and abandonment issues. She is neither spoken of or seen in things such as photos etc. This all circles around to why, as they say in the series, Soohyuk has become Yoondaes "home".
Soohyuk out of his own free will and kindness saw Yoondae for who he was and what he was going through. Yoondae didn't need to lie or tell him anything because Soohyuk understood. Unprompted love and care when he said to sleep in his room so Yoondaes dad won't hit him. Even Yoondae is confused by his kindness, but they show how he starts to understand that they are both similar and "not like their parents' '. He finally had someone who cared, loved and wanted him to be okay. Yoondae has friends of course but they never seem to grasp the complete toll Yoondaes father had on him. Don't get me wrong they understand and have done a lot for him but they never actively tried to help him in high school ( they're kids of course ) but Soohyuk did, I think that's why the impact of it was so great to him. Never mind the obvious attraction he has for Soohyuk *cough the bandaid scene cough*.
Some people may think his advances / attraction ( in the present timeline ) was out of left field or a way to manipulate Soohyuk to let him stay since Soohyuk clearly stated he likes men. I again do not agree. I think it was clearly shown in the past timeline that Yoondae was not interested in girls. His avoidance, annoyance and sabotage of the "double dates" his friend was making him go to was your first hint. The subtle things such as choosing to wear Soohyuks shoes even though they were falling apart. His upset and anger he had when Soohyuk "ran away" in the past timeline. The shock and longing he shows when he first sees him again. It's all there. But he had a girlfriend? Yes, a girlfriend who let him live in her house "after the first date because he was handsome" as his friend stated. Obviously this was a means to the end, and not any sort of attraction or love. ( not cool but it is what it is, haven't you grasped that Yoondae has issues lmao ) Even with Yoondaes track record, I don't believe him kissing Soohyuk was a way to manipulate him into letting him stay. I think it was his love for Soohyuk and his abandonment issues. He even says he doesn't want to leave because he doesn't want to say goodbye.
Yoondaes character invokes pity and frustration, "just get a job" you think- "just stop saying bullshit and say how you feel" you think. You want him to succeed, you want him to do better because he has had a hard life. But yet, he doesn't. instead he drinks every night and sleeps all day and does it again. Why? Because he thinks he deserves it, after all the hardships he's been through, his subconscious thinks, ah I deserve a break - just for a bit. I'm sad so I'll drink, I'm lonely so I'll go out. He does not think in future tense and that is his biggest current problem. Even other people understand, that's why it's not said to him at all in the series to "get a job" . His girlfriend literally was working overtime and he was just at home playing video games. When she spoke to Soohyuk about their break up you can hear the pity and emotion in her voice, as Soohyuk pointed out, she didn't even want to talk bad about him.
Yoondae is a slow drain, because he is a good person but over time he sort of...sucks the life out of you by his stagnate state. They didn't portray how long he was living with the girlfriend ( therefore how long he has been out of his fathers house ) but it doesn't seem like it was very long so I can't really blame him. Bro needs therapy, but no one is really telling him what he needs to do, they are just placating him. Even with the emotional scene with his friend where he, with tears in his eyes, asks his friend "what do I do" his friend just sits in silence. I think that's why Yoondae starts to get more and more desperate about Soohyuk leaving him, to some peoples disbelief, I think Yoondae knows his flaws. He knows Soohyuk will soon find out he inadvertently lied about his dad being dead, he knows that the "only reason" Soohyuk asked him to live with him was because he had “no one else” ( although that doesn’t appear to be the only reason in reality ). He knows that Soohyuk will “run away” and when he does, and stops sleeping at home Yoondaes abandonment issues kick into gear in full force. The scene where he lies about inviting friends over, breaking a window and cutting his hand is such an obvious display of his issues, the fact that he knows he uses pity and emotional manipulation to get love and affection. But what really breaks your heart is that he says “just kidding” in the most heartbreaking way because Yoondae KNOWS Soohyuk knows he’s lying anyways. But then he says “but i'm not lying about the broken window” as a last ditch effort because Yoondae doesn’t know any other way..(again therapy plz) Soohyuk then hangs up because again, he knows this is how Yoondae works. Thats why it is so gut wrenching when they go out to dinner and have the “home” conversation. Because even the audience felt the hope, we felt what Yoondae felt. Then for Soohyuk to “deny” him, it hurt really bad. But, yet you are happy that Soonhyuk knows his worth and knows that Yoondae needs to get himself together before they can move forward. Soonhyuk didnt deny his feelings or his want, but finally someone is telling him that he needs more time - they both do.
Now, why would Soonhyuk put up with this? Well, that's how he is, he already deals with type of person with his parents, he’s caring and extremely empathetic, he loves too much - gives too much and it has broken him down. His dad specifically…there are a scary amount of similarities with Yoondae and Soonhyuks father, the over drinking, the borrowing money, the spinning the wheels in one place. The series shows us that explicitly. So when Soonhyuk finally sticks up for himself to his father - I think a lightbulb clicks then that even though Yoondae is not exactly like his father, the place Yoondae is in is too similar and if he keeps placating him like he is, he will never go anywhere or get better. I think this was the major decision on Soonhyuks part. Unlike his father, where he stood up for himself because he reached a breaking point - realizing how hard the dynamic was on him and that there truly was no hope of his father changing. I believe with Yoondae, he knows there's hope, like they said “they aren't their parents” he has hope that Yoondae will be better, and he will be there to love him when he’s reached that point.
I could do a whole analysis on Soonhyuk but I believe my “review” is already too long lmao. I just wanted to shine some light on Yoondaes character as I think a lot of people may have misunderstood him, just like some of the characters in the show did. Really interesting seeing that.
Overall, I think it is a beautifully shot and realistic series, watch it <3
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This is such a lovely atmospheric drama, featuring real and recognizable human beings. Eiji is a simple man with a hidden past, and Katori absolutely does not overact in his characterization. He is slow and plodding, and one of the kindest, most selfless creatures you’ll ever see. Yet the drama weaves his past in such a way that the slow unveiling of his life history and the history of the woman he loved is almost as integral to the story as the events that happen in real time. Throw in his obvious affection for Shizuku, and their own adoption of a neighborly grandmother, another loner desperate to feel needed and loved, and just try not having any feels for this beautiful little family structure.
Keep in mind, all this is even before the lovely Mio steps into their lives, cane in hand, full of anxiety and uncertainty about this new direction in her life. And maybe with just a few secrets of her own, hidden behind a web of lies. And perhaps she’s not the only character to have more than one secret.
Conclusion- I love it. All of it. The only reason it doesn't get a perfect score is probably because of some of the pacing issues, but after I’d finished the drama and started to reflect on it, I realize just how lovely it is. I’m not yet that versed in Jdramas, but I think this was a rare find for me.
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1This review may contain spoilers
Romance, Riddles, and Really Hot People
Oki besties, buckle your emotional seatbelts—Into Your Heart is less a drama and more a serotonin-laced fever dream for the terminally romance-deprived. You don’t watch this mini C-drama—you surrender to it.The leads? Unreasonably pretty. The ML is down so bad, he’s basically groveling in (not so) HD. The FL? Ethereal queen. Together? Too hot to process.
The plot? Unhinged, yes—but also weirdly decent. I was invested, against my better judgment. It had no right to hook me like that, but here we are.
We're talking for fire kisses, questionable decisions, and a villain who seems to have escaped from another genre entirely. Is he evil? Misunderstood? On medication? Who knows. Who cares.
Episodes 1–20? Delicious chaos. Episodes 21–23? Kinda like stale chips—still edible, just… meh.
And the subs?? Oh honey. MangoTV out here running a cryptic crossword competition. I was mentally translating the translations like: “Wait… did he just propose or ask her to change the lightbulb?” 5D chess, but make it linguistics.
Happy ending? YES. Thank God. My neurons needed closure after all that chaos.
Final verdict: Pretty people. Dumb decisions. Wacky villain. Brain cells? Gone. Regrets? None.
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