Reviews

How did everyone think this was ok to put out lmao

I have very mixed reactions about this show partly because it has my favorite cast of all time but now i wonder what made me like them in the first place.

When i watched the first 2 eps i was already a bit shocked because there was fruit fly and mice p*rn and i was confused as to whether this even was a korean high budget show and not some deranged low budget web series.

PROS:
1. OSTs were amazing

2. Loved santi he was the only sanctuary from the mess

3. Did send a pretty hopeful message in the beginning atleast, to parents who want to have children but are suffering from infertility (though it later went wrong)

CONS:
1. Hated the characters: Gong ryung cheated on his fiancee go-eun no matter how much you try to sugar coat it and eve slept with him despite knowing he was engaged. All the space ship residents were annoying af and they did not deserve any screen time. The moms were the worst of it all, bad acting, bad storyline and bad execution.

2. No chemistry: None of the couples have any chemistry and I mean NONE. Gong ryung and eve just "fell" for each other because she was rude and he stitched her toe like wtf, the side couples also had no chemistry and they were unnecessary.

3. Zero logic: They literally explain themselves that it is IMPOSSIBLE for ppl to have s*x up there because of zero gravity, freezing temps etc. yet they magically manage to do it and also have a successfully implantation, despite the probability of both being extremely extremely low. Now i can get past the whole pregnancy stuff but like honestly how did her fetus withstand the force of 4G when she went up to space? like correct me if i'm wrong (i am not a doctor) but isn't the fetus more unstable in early stages of pregnancy? so logically shouldn't she have lost it when she went up to space and her environment suddenly changed?

4. Very bad pacing: slow paced in the beginning, fast in the end

5. No real ending: I'm confused as to whether this is birth propaganda or birth control propaganda lmfao. Like she gets pregnant and she decided to give birth but dies after labour which literally discourages women from giving birth. Like myb they might want to send out the msg that "look some women out here literally die to give birth in space then why can't you just give birth on earth with ob-gyns like gong ryung who will help you and let you have a perfectly safe birth and a happy family?" and the monologue in the end where they play a shit ton of baby videos felt morbid like idk why but it felt eerie af.

6. very bad way to deal with a lot of topics like fertility, adoption and birth: Imo this drama makes woman seem like nothing more than just birthing machines...Its so painfully obvious that they are pro-life and not pro-choice that i'm genuinely afraid for women in sk because its literally selling the idea that giving birth at the risk of your own life is motherly and "normal", like i am pro life on some instances but not when the mother would literally DIE if she gave birth like that is not okay, and nobody is even telling her that an abortion is ok because her giving birth is a death sentence for both the kid and her because a motherless child in space is not better of period! and why does the mother always die is the real question in these dramas.

7. No payback for the "evil": eve's mother doesn't get payback she is forgiven just because she adopted another kid and tried to donate her blood, the chairman of mz group does not get payback and he just continues to be successful professionally and he is forgiven solely because his love for his grandchild drove his actions.

8. Acting: My two favorite actors Lee Minho and Gong hyojin made me forget what i liked about their acting in the first place. this show was genuinely so bad that i forgot about their past projects. They had zero chemistry and the acting felt too casual like i felt like they weren't even trying..;

My theory: My personal conspiracy theory is that they killed eve in the end because she "killed" the morulas, maybe its a message that abortion is bad and that "murderers" get payback? like they want to send the message that those who choose abortion are just murderers who don't deserve to live happily. I also feel like they want to make babies the answer to everything like "a shitty relationship can be fixed with babies (Gonng ryung and eve ) and (goeun and other guy)"..." Your sad and traumatic past can be overcome with pregnancy!".....

Overall I think that the actors were compensated very very well to want to partake in this mess of a show, despite thinking it was a horrible show I will give it a 6 for santi, the filmography and the budget.

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Of the few dramas I have watched, Panda and Hedgehog was easily the most disappointing. It had such a strong premise and beginning, such cute characters and a storyline that just made you smile with every episode. In fact the happy feeling from the first 5 episodes is fairly reminiscent of the way To The Beautiful You made me feel.

Then they turned Pan Da into this annoying caricature of a woman, and started trying to throw in twists that were obvious from a mile away. I know there is a Korean term for it, but for me, this show just kept jumping the shark!

But enough negativity, since there really are some good things about this show that make it worth watching. Firstly, Won Yi. She made this show worth watching, she was so ridiculously adorable and over the top, I swear I have a minor crush on her! Also, Hedgehog's character was so fun to watch, even when the crap hit the proverbial fan. He was like the Energizer Bunny, not stopping for anything. His "1, 2, 3 Go!" was just adorable and watching his feelings develop (very quickly, I might add) for Pan Da just made you love him all the more.

The cast of supporting characters also really helped in making this a fun drama to watch. I will admit, I cried pretty hard towards the end, and I wouldn't have if it weren't for the amazing job the cast did with a sometimes ridiculous script.

If you are looking for something cute, fluffy and no where near groundbreaking or deep, then this is what you want!

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Kim Soo-Hyun’s Sublime Return To Thrillers…

Remake dramas can often go down two selective routes; diverging from the originality of its predecessor, or offering viewers a production en par with the original. Thankfully Coupang Play’s first series led by director
Lee Myung-woo, ‘ One Ordinary Day ‘ ( a remake of the original BBC series ‘ Criminal Justice’), offered viewers a fairly knockout adaptation with arguably darker explorations of the criminal judicial system, an intriguing setup as well as a brilliant cast lineup ( most notably A-list actor Kim Soo-Hyun as the main lead).

The series focuses upon seemingly “ model student” college-student Kim Hyeon-soo (Kim Soo-hyun). In an effort to apparently gain popularity Hyeon-Soo decided to hook up one night with Hong Kook-Hwa ( Hwang Se-on); a mysterious yet beguiling troublemaker. However Hyeon-Su’s fantastical night is cut short as he wakes up to a horrifying sight. Seemingly framed for a crime he didn’t commit, few seem to believe his plea for innocence- apart from gruff lawyer Shin Joon-Han ( Cha Seung-won). Alongside soft-spoken novice lawyer Seo Soo Jin ( Lee Seol), Joon-Han is determined to prove Hyeon-Su’s innocence yet as further problems arise in the case, the true question of justice begins to become more clouded along the way…

‘ One Ordinary Day’ delivers anything but mundanity for viewers - its heavy-going and macabre themes upon murder, crime, prison, corruption and injustice will likely not appeal to everyone. Whilst the first episode admittedly offers viewers a fast-paced and adrenal-infused episode, the latter episodes do hit a slight rut at times of struggling to maintain the same alacrity. ( Admittedly whilst some of these scenes were necessary for slowing down and building -up setups and characters, they’d sometimes disengage episodes from keeping viewers captivated by moving at a quicker pace.)

Casting top-actors in a lesser-known and more mature production can always be a gamble for both the actor as well as the company. However Kim Soo Hyun does not disappoint bringing forth a gut-wrenching performance as the main lead . Hyun-Soo is the ultimate enigma for viewers- a bright student and seemingly a kindhearted son, but his myriad of reckless decision-making causes him to start his hellish journey throughout the series. Naturally whilst the storyline never wanted to give too much away about Hyun-Soo’s ultimate final verdict , there were admittedly moments in the series surrounding Hyun-Soo which felt as though they could’ve been shown in more intrinsic depth. ( Including further insight into his relationship with his parents , his experiences with peers during his younger years ,Hyun-Soo’s college life as well as about his fight for survival in prison.)Even if the drama had offered these some of these moments as merely “Red Herrings” it could’ve allowed for more opportunities to have seen a multilayered onset for Hyun Soo as a character.

Alongside Kim Soo Hyun is costar Cha Seung Won who played the role of the unkempt lawyer with an air of rugged charm. Yet admittedly whilst there were intriguing elements to Seung Won as a written-character, the deuteragonist could often lack some greater and definitive focus on his backstory. Of course this isn’t to say that Shin Joong Han is a poorly-written character by any stretch of the imagination; the male lead is far from being a perceived as an impeccable guardian angel and instead nearly plays devil’s advocate in the courtroom - he has his own demons to deal with, personal motives for taking on his clientele for and is widely dismissed by the inner-circle of judges and prosecutor as being “ third-rate”. However the storyline could’ve admittedly been smoothed down more if the drama had given opportunities to understand more about his past.

Combined together with the vivid cinematographer of Lee Myung-Woo of vivid neon night shots against the mundanity of the court room , ‘ One Ordinary Day’ becomes a suspenseful reverse-psychology series where versatile themes surrounding corruption, drugs and abuse were played carefully with the murky lightning of flashbacks presented a moody and unsettling atmosphere against the lucid mundanity of tension. Inter played when necessary with the spine-tingling OST, ‘ One Ordinary Day’ was surprisingly masterful when it came to delivering some of its impactful scenes for viewers.

Naturally this brings us onto one of the greatest downfalls for ‘ One Ordinary Day’; the ending. Naturally the ending wasn’t inherently rushed with a notably slow-paced speed weighing down a major proportion of the final episodes in order to build-up towards the finale. On the other hand whilst the ending is certainly surprising for viewers and did seem to present a powerful statement message towards the unstable corruption of the judicial system in South-Korea, it did admittedly feel slightly anticlimactic for viewers with certain original links and questions remaining unanswered even by the final episode.

Nevertheless whilst the series could sometimes struggle with attaining constant and steady pacing as well as shaping out certain subplots, ‘ One Ordinary Day’ was a fairly thrilling and gripping series which offered brilliant performances by our cast and especially Kim Soo-Hyun as well as Cha Seung Won. The ending was admittedly slightly unexpected and failed to wrap up some more quintessential loose ends for viewers, but did undeniably deliver the reminder for audiences that ‘ One Ordinary Day’ was harrowing within its portrayal of the judicial system.

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Do you want to hear a 2nd Opinion on this drama : ) ?

Ok, Let’s see, why did I like it :

A – Actors: I DO LIKE how fresh and dare the roles is for both main Leads, sure I am a fan for them together and separately and I do believe they are very good actors, However , to accept a role that you might be judged upon from viewers as unfaithful husband and a cold hearted home wrecker women, this is intimidating ..

B – Storyline : The fact that there is no Black and White zones, it’s not villains and angels show, so if you are looking for a show like this, most properly you wouldn’t like this one , However this show beautifully mirrored how a human can change , grow to love, grow to hate , grow to be insecure even in the strongest relationships..

C – Most viewers who started the show , completed it even though they didn’t like it , sure for different reasons, but I would put this kind of drama on my drama list for sure , it got the factors that builds every good drama , good storyline with slow paced development..

D – The soundtracks , I needn’t say more, it’s purely addictive :) and well played..

Finally , the ending seemed realistic , reflecting hope , although I was quite sure the last 5 episodes could have been more invested and more detailed to enrich the ending more .. it left me feeling that may be 2 more episodes are needed.

Go ahead and watch the drama if you want a mature realistic romance

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Better off as a non fantasy family makjang

Before saying I hated the reborn part -which technically should be reawaken cuz he was 10 :) - I'll mention the good parts

I love love love sungminie ahjussi's acting, and I loved his character. Maybe he looked like a villain, but he was just a business man starting from scratch and also a head of a kiss*ss family. The poor guy had to deal with new business ideas in a time it was thought crazy and risky while also having money hungry family that only wanted to please him for his inheritance.
But, lol that was a long introduction, but he once he found his "reawakened" grandson, he found his match, his partner in crazy ideas and that was the most beautiful part for me
Also sungminie ahjussi's acting was 100000000x on point
That elevator scene and his fully devastated face will hunt me forever ♡
From what I gathered, he didn't have dementia in the novel, and this is the 3rd time sungminie ahjussi does it, so I think they hit the jackpot cuz each time is different yet still heartbreaking


Another good thing for me was the 80s/90s business vibe, everyone looked great but also the theme and history really enhanced the story rather than say, him awaking as a 10 year old in 2000 and being becomong an adult in 2010s and fighting his family in 2020s


I also actually really loved Sung joon and hyun min's toxic angsty relationship and I'd have loved this more from their POV, a bit like Secret makjang which is one of my favs (tho don't make me watch it with 2020s eyes)



Anyway the bad. I hated the rebornness, cuz as I said it was more like being possessed, then made complicated by double songs cuz it didn't make sense unless both hyunwoo and dojoon switched places, which might've become even more like golden spoon


I also hated the flat romance. Cuz technically reawakened dude is 30+19(?) When they 1st met and so he's a 50/60 year old going after a 20/30 year old no matter their past connection. I actually hate going back to change the past romances for this reason

The ending.. "it was all a dream" is such a old time cliche, I always remember twilight breaking dawn saying the fight between the oldie vamps and collin family was filmed and my 1st thought was ofc it's all a vision..
It's basically a cheap bow out from cleaning up the mess one makes. Ie making two Songs and making one come after the other (which were said to not be in the novel) then not having the courage to continue...
One could say he projected himself trying to remember, analyze and amend. But would one really dream of 20 years of life, remember every single detail and basically playing SIMS with a stranger? Atleast they could've hinted it with weird time skips or foggy memories xD

So basically, a normal family makjang where he would've wanted revenge for how his grandparents disowned his parents would've been enough. Like sure we needed him to know certain time stamps and events but he could've still been like his grandpa good at and even bad at business and we could've had stronger bonds between them
Also this drama got real boring once grandpa died Y_T

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I prefer this over the "series" version

I watched the series version of this as it released but never left a review for it because I only recently added all the Asian shows/movies I've watched to MDL - and rated them - very recently. And when I say recently, I mean a week ago haha. However, the movie cut for WISH YOU was released onto viki and now all the English subs are loaded now, so I just watched it. I wasn't going to rewatch this until I heard there was an extra twenty minutes added that wasn't in the original series cut. That definitely interested me since I only scored the series a 7/10 due to the flow not being quite right and the story not making complete sense.

With that, I'll start my review.

Story: Honestly, a solid 8/10 from me. This type of story and the amount of development in it really fits a movie format more than a series. One of my biggest gripes with all of the Korean BLs is that they release them in 8-10 ten minute episodes instead of just releasing it as a film in the first place. But also, I'm not going to complain that much because at least South Korea are making BLs in the first place, ya know? (ones that aren't tragedies or sad haha.) Anyway, I only gave a 8 because I still feel as though the characters are a little under developed. In the end, we still don't know all that much about either of them except that Kang In Soo's dad is a CEO who doesn't want him pursuing a music career. The writing is great, the cinematography is great and so is the aesthetic. Great quality all around. What I'm really happy about is that the story MAKES MORE SENSE in the movie cut and it FLOWS NICELY (woo!) and it's all because of that extra 20 minutes. Even though the added scenes may not seem important, they are. For example, in the series I'm pretty sure they didn't show that Sang Yi was in a band early on like they did in the movie, so that scene where Kang In Soo sees him playing the keyboard makes way more sense lol. Plus, we got to see Kang In Soo hear the arrangement he doesn't like and them eating after he walks out while he avoids the topic with Sang Yi - which is why he says "Say it" to him when Sang Yi won't drop it after lunch/dinner. There argument makes more sense that way. Another example is when we see Kang In Soo after the kiss as he plays the guitar and thinks about Sang Yi, I think this was an important scene to include rather than the story skipping straight to the next day when everything happens like it does in the series. And even the scene later in the movie when we see Sang Yi go to Min Sung (In Soo's friend/manager). That whole searching scene adds a lot honestly. All of the added scenes that they originally cut out of the series are subtle moments, but they make the story flow way better and helps with the logic of the story as a whole. Thank God I wasn't left feeling confused by the end this time.

Acting/Cast: Not much to say but the cast did a great job and I think everyone was casted perfectly. I especially loved Sang Yi's acting. They had great chemistry too which is always important.

Music: The OST for this WISH YOU is amazing. I really love all the songs but Wish For You is definitely my favourite. I listen to it a lot. I even learned it on ukulele and learnt all the words despite being a native English speaker. Both Kang In Soo and Sang Yi are great musicians.

Rewatch Value: I feel like this is strictly personal preference so take my opinion with a grain of salt here. However, I only gave the rewatch value of this movie a 7/10 because I'm not a rewatcher in general. I only rewatch shows or movies that really stick with me or that I become obsessed over. This movie is super cute and maybe somethings others would love to rewatch, but it's not obsess-worthy for me. Again, that's just my personal opinion! Although, technically I did rewatch this since I watched the original series and then this movie cut of it.

Overall: I highly recommend this! It's cute, revolved around music, and it's only 1hr 42mins of your time! (:

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Had A Lot of Potential But Fell Incredibly Short

I was looking forward to seeing what this drama had to deliver because I like the tomb raiding, Republican era type of genre too and apart from Elaine Zhong and Wang Yang, I was completely unfamiliar with the cast. This, however, was a very disappointing series that shouldn't be marketed as a tomb raiding drama, but a romance/conspiracy one.

Pros: By far the best and favorite character was DYQ followed in close second by LYS. This drama was essentially theirs. I love how LYS went from a potential antagonist and constant thorn in DYQ's side to literally his big brother though not by blood. Just the two of them could have run this series together and it would have been way better then it was. Once LYS gets past his misunderstanding, their relationship as brothers in arms and brothers in general due to sect position, is a fantastic sight.

Other favorite characters were He Biao, Yanzhi (who needed a way better ending then just being left behind in Shanghai), the kid cook, brother San (who honestly really needed to take notes because of how much he didn't understand lol), as well as everyone from all other sects that always showed up to help DYQ. Shady Shifu was a great antagonist as he literally hid under their noses the entire time, even if the audience figured him out long ago. When it came to production, Republican era is always gorgeous and this was no different, the sets and costumes were stunning. The martial arts aspect was pretty good though I wish more of it was shown.

Cons: Where to begin? This series had probably one of the messiest plots I've seen in a while. Usually, c-dramas at least have a strong start but this series spent the first 11 episodes chasing after an artifact and talking in circles about a supposed engagement attached to said artifact. Kunlun mountains were nonexistent and barely mentioned at the time. Everything was about the dragon bone, it was boring. The dragon bone ended up not being much of anything even remotely useful in the end.

Why I didn't put WS' character in the pros because it was very hard to like her. She spent those 11 episodes essentially pouting and whining about why DYQ didn't acknowledge an engagement he never agreed to. Her character growth happened suddenly and without warning when somewhere in episode 21 DYQ took whatever LSD she was smoking and confessed his love and they got married shortly thereafter. It was so fast and unbelievable that it felt like a whiplash. Sure, he showed some signs of having a small crush on her but not full blown "I love you". I did like her evolution more or less around the time they got married but still felt there was little believable chemistry between her and DYQ. Like we were supposed to like them together because they were the leads not because they had any actual chemistry and that just didn't jive.

Another thing that was poorly done, was that the weasel or brother of LYS and Fengling, got more screen time then DYQ did for probably the first 15 episodes and he was truly a useless character even before he went to work for her Ladyship (a mysterious and powerful figure whom never appeared save for her hand and chin; an unnecessary trope and considering how often her name came up, they should have revealed who she was). All of his screen time, I ffw'd in the beginning of the series; I couldn't handle him on screen. This freak of nature had an obsession with WS that went beyond the norm and even after the near sexual assault after drugging her, they were still able to talk later on in the series and he was able to send her off to get married. When he was finally officially killed off, instead of telling the gang a vital piece of info he saw, he ended it by rambling to WS about being in the next life with her. The lack-brain plot and gimmicks are inconceivable to me. Lord, please make it make sense.

Fengling was just an absolute loss of a character, started out sweet and caring and in a flip of a switch turned into an obsessed woman delusional over DYQ and absolutely power hungry and murderous while throwing adult sized tantrums when she didn't get her way. I expected her to meet her end at some point but that would have been hard, so production literally gave her a 5 minute redemption in the second to last episode. It was laughable and just beyond stupid.

Commander Fat Ass was as useless of a character as Her Ladyship, there was no reason to even have him there. Just to have as an evil filler like the weasel's stuttering friend. Literally nothing about this had anything to do with tomb raiding but just uncovering lies and conspiracies. It should be renamed to something like "Kunlun Mountains Still Unknown" or "The Conspiracies of Penta-Sect" because the title has zilch to do with the series. The OSTs were absolutely inappropriate for wherever they appeared; at least one belonged in a modern drama while the other sounded more like a lullaby.

Also the ending was beyond rushed and never explained how DYQ ultimately escaped from the collapsing ancestral hall. One minute everything is collapsing and soldiers are getting killed by flying boulders, the next minute we are brought to a "Western Clinic" without any warning of how much time has passed because there's an obvious time jump; DYQ and WS are running a clinic where he's a doctor, there's a picture of Fengling and a very much upright He Biao on DYQ's desk and kid cook looking all grown up runs in with a letter and picture of LYS and Brother San who are in the army fighting someone. It all came together like kindergarten macaroni art. I think DYQ figured out that star map thing in those final moments of the collapse scene because he went from sad smile to happy smile before it panned to the clinic.

I'm not sure it's editing, review board, or what is to blame for this series just appearing like a botched Frankenstein project but that's what it essentially was. Had a lot of potential but fell incredibly short.

Would I recommend it? No, I would not. Unless you are a fan of any of the actors, this is too much of a mess no matter how beautiful production itself is. Don't give yourself a headache unless you're incredibly bored.

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Princess Agents Fans ....... Drama Gods Blessed Us with This Masterpiece

The anticipation for this drama was so intense that watching anything else felt like a complete waste of time. But let me tell you, the wait was absolutely worth it! It not only met but exceeded all expectations.

Cast: We have Lin Geng Xin, his portrayal of a deity is nothing short of divine. From his physicality to his subtle nuances, he brings a mesmerizing depth to the character that is unparalleled. And then we have Zhao Li Ying, the ultimate badass actress who knows how to kick some serious butt. She embodies her role with such fierce determination that you can't help but be in awe.

Now, let's check off the boxes. Forbidden love? Check. Age-gap romance, the delicious flavor we all secretly adore? Double check. And let's not forget about the scorching chemistry between the characters. Unlike those dramas where the tension fizzles out, leaving you disappointed, this one keeps the fire burning from the very first episode. The stolen glances, the palpable attraction, and the simmering tension will have you begging for more.

Speaking of strong characters, this drama knows how to give us a badass leading lady. She's not just there to show off the male lead's weaknesses; she's a force to be reckoned with herself. Though, call me superficial, but I do appreciate when the male lead exudes that alpha energy. I mean, it's okay for the female lead to be alpha too, but let's not make her stronger than the poor guy, ok?

And let's not forget about the soundtrack! The OSTs in this drama shine brighter than a supernova. They perfectly complement every scene, tugging at your heartstrings and making you hum along. It's like the icing on the cake, adding that extra touch of magic to the already captivating storyline.

But wait, there's more! This drama is a feast for the eyes. Gone are the clichéd moments and predictable storylines that plague many Chinese dramas. Instead, we're treated to a visual masterpiece. The attention to detail, the beautifully crafted scenes, and the overall artistic flair make every frame a work of art.

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That Summer the Waves Brought Them Together

'That Summer', first things first, I really love the title. There's something about summer- it's fleeting, short-lived, but maybe that's what makes it all the more beautiful and of course, hotter too. A love named after that season, just like the season itself, feels like an escapade, you know a little world apart where everything is more intense, more emotional, and more unforgettable. And this series is really good- execution wise as well as plot wise.

Davin, a prince who loses his memory after an accident, ends up being saved by Lava, a rebellious kid sent to live with his uncle for three months as a punishment. And that's where everything begins. Lava names the stranger "Wave" because, as he says, "The waves brought you to me." and their story quickly becomes a mix of bickering, teasing, and unexpectedly tender moments in between. Lava is a total tsundere- sharp, sarcastic, but secretly soft- and Wave, even without his memories, still has his princely charm and playful sass. And he is so damn cute. Like even when he is glaring at Lava, all I could see was cuteness. Their bickerings were hilarious but when they actually care for each other, it was genuinely heart melting. And after Wave and Lava finally acknowledge their feelings for each other, the story just gets sweeter and more layered. Their relationship blossoms from playful teasing into genuine intimacy, both emotionally and, at times, physically, but always in that heart-melting way. The cute bickering doesn't disappear- it just transforms into a comfortable, teasing language that only they share. Also, I absolutely loved the coming out scene of Prince Davin.

The side story with Lava's uncle Pheng and his doctor boyfriend Wut is sweet yet layered with it's own complexities. Wut's desire to live openly- no longer hiding who they are or what they mean to each other clashes gently with Pheng's hesitation and need for privacy. Still, instead of pushing, Wut chooses understanding Their relationship is filled with quiet but meaningful gestures. Their journey from hiding to being official was really worth watching.

Other side characters also add depth and fun. Tum, the wannabe influencer, is hilariously entertaining, and his interactions with Kratae, the kind nurse, creates a fun bickering dynamic. Also, the setting is gorgeous, the vibes are nostalgic, and the whole story just in a way sticks with you, at least it did with me. Recommended!!!

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This drama had me hooked from the very first episode. I finished the entire drama in about 2 days.

Story: The story is your typical rom-com, except in this one the guy is more gentle and kind. He does have a bit of a mean side but it's usually won over by his sweet and gentle side. At first I was turned off by the main female due to her lack of confidence, but I liked how she did change which made me like her and the story more. This drama made me dislike the second female lead, which meant it did its job, but it also did do a good job in portraying her in a sympathetic light for her own story. I loved the second male lead, and I wanted to marry him, but even though I liked the second male lead, I still found there was more chemistry between the main leads. Some side stories were a bit too over dramatic and a bit annoying but a lot of them were interesting which I enjoyed. I just felt that the plot about Dylan's sister was just a bit too unbelieving.

Acting: The acting was great! I believed all the character's emotions and I got sucked into it. The only part it dragged off on was the last few episodes where Cun Xi had to act fake and lie, I felt his acting was a bit too overdone. But overall the acting was awesome!!

Music: I think the music was good and matched very well. There were some parts where the music was a bit too dramatic but overall well done.

Re-watch: I loved this drama so much that I right now I kinda wish that I didn't speed through it and I had watched at a good pace. This is a drama I will definitely watch again when I'm bored and have no dramas to watch.

Overall: It is rated an 8, because even though I loved loved loved the story, at the end I had to fast forward through chunks of it to get to the good parts. When I fast forwarded through I found that I could still understand what was going on which indicated that those parts were a bit unnecessary and could have been taken out or have had less screen time.

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Perfection. Step your game all the way up, drama world, because Misaeng has just elevated the bar. No gimmicks. No sticky sweet cliches. No action (well, just a tad). And yes, no romance. Yet... this drama blew my mind. It's the layered cake that needs no frosting.

This show has touched in me in such a profound way. How such a mundane story could make me experience a range of emotions each episode is a magical feat. As the director said, it was "realer than real." The memories I revisited from my past; battles and victories. My own inner struggles I've had to overcome, some I'm still working on. You see how you can get caught up in feeling like you're just living to work and die. However, this show reminds you that what matters is all the in-betweens that make up your life. Those small wins, jokes shared with people who understand you, that feeling you get when you knock one out the park, and more. So many aspects of the show are relatable and almost tangible.

I must admit that I was surprised by a couple of the actors. Im Shi Wan, I had only seen in the little bit of Triangle that I watched and I felt he was a mediocre actor, as was the drama overall. In Misaeng, he's really at the epicenter of the explosion that happened within my mind regarding this show. He absorbs the character Jang Geu Rae like a sponge. As does Lee Sung Min with the character Oh Sang Shik. I'd go back and forth between adoration and frustration toward him, just like you do with people in real life. You could feel him working out conflicts, sense when he was hiding something, and empathize with him making tough decisions. I saw Lee Sung Min in the show Pasta as a goofy restaurant manager and never would've guessed he was capable of manifesting that much depth. It goes to show that material and direction really do make a difference.

I had never seen Lee Kyeong Yeong in anything before, but I just knew his performance was probably the best he's ever done. The character Director Choi was someone you felt you should really dislike, but had a hard time doing so. Lee Kyeong Yeong didn't make him too cool, as he would have seemed cocky. He didn't make him sinister, either, even though we knew he was teeming with ulterior motives. He was a quiet enemy you respected, but still hoped would get their come-uppance at some point.

There's so much more to so many other characters. Even though there were discernible main roles, the supporting roles and minor roles at times seemed like main ones. You cared about everyone to some degree. Just like in a typical workplace. If something were to happen to the woman who sat on the other side of the cubicle wall to Geu Rae, despite her rarely ever saying a word, you'd care. You see her every episode. You know she has a story, you just haven't heard it yet. The show is that engaging.

Misaeng is a truly remarkable series that I'm thankful for being able to have watched. Exceptional writing, casting, acting, screenplay, and overall quality. Best of all, I feel I was able to gain quite a bit from the lessons that were shared.

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A Drama That Will Keep You Entertained Through and Through! A Satisfying Ending!

I just completed the first two episodes of "Red Swan", and I must say that I'm more than impressed. This drama has almost everything you would want to see in a drama, romance, action, justice, and revenge. The story is about Oh Wan Soo a top golfer who marries into a chaebol family and find herself in danger.
Kim Ha Neul and Rain as the leads are delivering an outstanding performance with their top tier acting. Their chemistry is firing as expected, their first encounter was also somewhat unique. The supporting roles also delivers wonderfully.

The plot is captivating and interesting. The screenwriter did an excellent job in writing such wonderful story. The first episode had me on the edge of my seat, I didn't even noticed that the the second episode was about to end, not up until the song for the closing theme was played.
What do I love about this drama? What I love about this drama is that it delivered. Precisely, the action, it exceeded expectations. The romance also, we are shown the leads chemistry right from the first two episodes.
"Red Swan" is a drama anyone wouldn't want to miss. Its a drama that'll keep you excited through and through, I assure you, you won't get bored, not even in the slightest way. I know it because that's how I felt while watching it.


EP 3-6; These four episodes turned out to be very interesting and captivating. To be honest, I'd put this drama on hold and it's been two weeks. Why? It's because I wanted to have more episodes to watch, rather than the two episodes each week. Finally, episode 5&6 aired yesterday, making it four episodes to watch.

Some comments were about "forced chemistry and the FL not being suitable for the ML", but I'm telling all those are not true. The chemistry is there, the leads chemistry is firing. As the drama progresses, it gets more interesting and better. So Ignore the low ratings, negative comments and reviews, and watch this drama. It's definitely a drama anyone wouldn't want to miss. It's a must watch, a drama that makes you glued to your screen. Yes, it's that good! I gave this a 9 previously, but upon completing those four episodes, I'm increasing my ratings to 9.5 as those four episodes exceeded my expectations. Join me in this journey of "Red Swan" and watch how Oh Wan Soo and her bodyguard "Seo Do Yoon" overcomes adversities, punish evil, get justice, and finally get together. Yes, the romance has started blooming! I'm excited for what's to come next!

Ending
What can I say? "Red Swan has finally come to a conclusion. Although the ending isn't what I anticipated, nor was it what I expected, but it's still satisfying.
Red Swan is a drama that tells audiences and the world that justice will always prevail.
"What is justice?", that's often the question twisted people who are rich will ask. "I'm above the law. I'm untouchable. I'm dignified." That's how twisted rich people think. What I like about this drama is that, all those who think they can get away with their filthy acts, were punished in the end, by the law. While "Red Swan's" ending is not the best, the ending is still a happy. All the characters played there respective roles excellently.

Speaking of characters acting, I've got to hand it to Rain for displaying what I'd call exceptional acting. He slayed his role as a former police officer, and as a bodyguard. To be honest, this is my first time watching him in a drama. I must say, I'm more than impressed with his acting. His action scenes kept me glued to my screen. There's also Kim Ha Neul who's an actress I'm familiar with.

Ignore The Negative Comments;
There are comments stating how Kim Ha Neul always have the same facial expression. But if you're to ask me, she portrayed her role as Oh Wan Soo perfectly.
Oh Wan Soo is someone who couldn't trust anyone, not even her husband. The family she married into turned her into a doubtful person. She used to be a trusting person, but that was before her son's death. Her husband is unfaithful to her, he goes around sleeping with other women. Her mother-in-law is the the craziest I've seen. The same goes for her brother in law. Everyone in that family treated her as their competition and rival, except her husband. And even though Kim Young Guk didn't treat her as a competition, he wasn't loyal either. To be put bluntly, he's more of his mother's puppet than a husband. So, in such an environment, if she's still laughing and smiling, then wouldn't that be strange? Hence, her environment turned her into a cold person, someone who usually wears the same facial expression, except for when she needs to put on an act in front of a camera, that is. She's like that till Seo Do Yoon came into her life. In my opinion, her facial expressions are spot on, it matches the character she portrayed in "Red Swan". So, ignore the negative comments about the FL, and watch with an open mind, then, make your judgment based on what you see.

In conclusion, "Red Swan" is a drama that explores human greed and lust. It's a drama that explores love, hate, infidelity, revenge, and justice. So, don't miss out on this drama that's packed with action, mystery, thriller, and romance. It also has beautiful OSTs. "Red Swan" is a drama worth your time. I know it because, it was worth mine.

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Sizzles while it fizzles.

A massive fire devastates Qingzhou on the night Dayan's Weibei army triumphantly reclaims the city from Xiyan. Suspected of razing the city to the ground, the Weibei army is disbanded in shame while their leader, Prince Murong Jinghe is sent to his fief. To Mei Lin whose world collapsed that day, that was not justice; far from it! Rising from the flames, she transforms herself into an elite assassin for the Shadow Works. Her first assignment is to infiltrate Dayan as a Xiyan beauty bride to assassinate the "Butcher General" Murong Jinghe. She must complete her mission with all due haste to obtain the antidote to the deadly toxin the mysterious master of the Shadow Works uses to control her.

The stage is set and Murong Jinghe's entrance made my my jaw drop and my mouth go dry! Sinister and unspeakably handsome, insolent, casually malevolent and utterly unforgettable. When his cold cynical gaze collides with Mei Lin's wild, ferocious one, the screen explodes into flames. I was seated for what promised to be the ultimate revenge drama, a dark, passionate and twisted enemies to lovers story. I can't remember the last time a drama hooked me so completely from the get go. So I hushed my inner voice that protested the fact that they seemed to reveal the entire plot by episode 3. All too soon after, their thrilling dark, combative chemistry and one-upwomanship tit-for-tat turned into a moving unbreakable alliance that made them both so vulnerable I feared for them. Even though the plot falls apart around them, I enjoyed every moment of the torrid, ardent, connection between Jinghe and Mei Lin that was so effortlessly conveyed by Liu Xueyi and Wu Jinyan. They captivated me with their intense screen presence and the way their chemistry still sizzles while it fizzles through every silly, illogical, emotionally harrowing arc the script made them jump through.

This drama was by a wide margin, my biggest disappointment this year. As someone who read and more or less forgot the novel 春花厌 or Spring Flower Disgusted, I should have known that you can't make a symphony out of one note. There simply was not enough plot to do justice to the exciting concept and delicious character designs. Unfortunately Murong Jinghe, who was a ruthless scumbag for most of the novel, got whitewashed so early in the drama I thought he was body swapped into his adorable little white dog. Nonetheless, I enjoyed watching the enemies become allies and then lovers. Exceptional visuals and the couple's chemistry got me through the boring digression into the romantic filler arc that saw both leads regress into lovey dovey country bumpkins. The all-important revenge arc however disappointed me deeply as Mei Lin was unforgivably short changed of her vengeance so we never really get to see her slay as an assassin nonpareil. The drama should have ended at that arc instead of soldiering on for another mind numbingly boring eight episodes. The entire final Xiyan arc was ridiculously melodramatic and Zigu's love story was yet another filler arc, one that was in poor taste. Jinghe turns into a noble idiot who entrusts a well-meaning but incompetent young idiot with a task that was way over his pay grade. After all the blood and tears, I almost laughed out loud that they were ultimately foiled by a flower chomping, superstitious old fool. The drama comes to a full circle with the novel in that no one gets an ending that they deserve.

I won't lie - even Liu Xueyi and Wu Jinyan's phenomenal acting and charisma could not save this drama, it just made it barely tolerable. None of the other characters are interesting or well written enough to make me invested in their stories. Baron Chen's Murong Xuanlie is quite well portrayed but is too archetypal and his story and motivations quickly becomes repetitive and boring. Luo Mei's moral code is too mismatched with that of Xuanlie that as a couple, they are completely implausible. And Yue Qin was written to be such a lame character that there really was no room for Bi Wenjun to shine. What promised to be a dark and riveting story about love, revenge and justice turned out to be a sober warning about the ravages of war. Everyone from the common man to the king in the high castle is not safe and lives regretfully ever after.

This was a story that was written by four different writers and it shows. I can easily rate the first 3 episodes of this drama 8.5-9.0. After that, it barely holds an 8.0 for me and after episode 24, it is barely a 6.0. I think a fair rating overall is 7.0 but I throw in 0.5 more for Liu Xueyi and Wu Jinyan's acting to call it a 7.5. Watch at your own risk and use the FF button liberally.

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