This review may contain spoilers
"Why do we fall? So we can learn to pick ourselves up." - Oh Mi Joo
This type of drama is hard to find. Every episode leaves you wanting more. The interactions between the characters feel real, every conversation makes the characters more human. Something that caught my eye from the beginning was how all the characters were introduced. As Yook Ji Woo (Seon Gyeom mom) introduces her next work she says "Its one of those love stories were one can be a nutjob (Seon Gyeom), a loser( Mi Joo), a psychopath (Dan Ah), and a piece of trash( Young Hwa) or someone's first love"Up until now, it has no big misunderstanding, no over the top evil or annoying characters. Ki Seon Gyeom and Oh Mi Joo talk things out they leave no room for a misunderstanding to happen. One of the scenes that really surprised me was in the scene at the end of episode 7 and the beginning of 8, following a typical kdrama that was a perfect scene to make the leads fight or have a misunderstanding but our female lead doesn't walk away angry or crying instead she tells the dad that she knows her place because she has been there many times and takes the male lead with her. The way our second couple interacts is also fascinating, I cant wait to see how their story progresses.
This week's episodes really blew my mind (11 & 12), Dan Ah really blew my mind during these two episodes and what can I say about Young Hwa what he did was totally unexpected.
The breakup scene of Mi Joo and Seon Gyeom was really well written, he didn't invade her space, although it seems they really didn't break up. This is one of the first breakups that didn't get me mad because I understood how Mi Joo was feeling and so did Seo Gyeom and he gave her space to communicate how she felt.
Now that we are so close to the end, ill share my honest opinion. Up until now, there has been no toxic relationships or characters. Every character has a "job", they are all there for a purpose. Something I loved and I'm sure I've mentioned before is that the writer didn't rely on the typical cliches, they took a story and made it interesting without the need for absurd drama. While watching other shows, and I'm sure a lot of you will agree, sometimes I get frustrated at the choices some of the characters make since they seem to make no sense but up until now haven't felt any frustration. All the decisions seem to be appropriate and they are all realistic. I also like that they didn't do a love triangle, nor add annoying people who are more obsessed than in love with the leads. Instead, they too 4 characters and made a unique story for them without creating any rivalries between them, which is also seen in a lot of dramas where there is 4 main lead, and in the beginning, they create a love triangle to later pair them off with the extra lead.
In the case of this drama, both father figures seem to suck, and at first, I thought the mother was going to be a problem too, but she ended up being laid back. I really liked what she said, "My life isn't yours, I worked really hard to get where I am...I am the star of my life"
FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE ENDING:
Mi Joo-"We will probably never fully understand each other, right?"
Seon Gyeom- "Yes... We're different after all."
Mi Joo- "You have your world and I have mine, but we could align our worlds next to each other, couldn't we? So let's not be disappointed in each other. That's impossible to do. Instead, we'll stick to whatever is possible."
This last episode had bittersweet moments but it all got wrapped up nicely. Not everyone has the same definition of what a "Happy Ending" is supposed to look like, it's up to us to choose our happy ending. It's sad that after such a long time this phenomenal drama came to an end. Learn how to love yourself. and learn to love others.
This drama has everything, bromance, womance, a smooth storyline. You won't regret giving it a try.
Was this review helpful to you?
Such a cheesy disaster that it's endearing
In totality, it was okay. Definitely loved Duean and Meen more than anything else. It was cheesy full of stupid plot devices that you learn to deal with it1. Mork was a stalker. A glamorized one, but a stalker nonetheless
2. The whole Bam plot twist is such a classic GMMTV thing to do. A FEMALE has to come out from NOWHERE to produce conflict. Of freaking course
3. Instead of the ep 11 curse, GMMTV decided to be edgy and made the conflict in ep 12. It made everything feel rushed when literally they had 11 episodes of nothingness
4. I hate how manipulative Mork was to Pi in terms of forcing Pi to come out with their relationship.
All of these things are so cliche and are so bad, but I guess I'm so used to dramaland that at this point, the predictability is what sold it for me.
Also, Pond is so freaking gorgeous.
Was this review helpful to you?
1"We Married for Job" paints some of the most prominent recent Japanese cultural phenomena including soushokukeidanshi (herbivore men) and bankon (getting married later in life) as well as older examples such as the role of women and men, the value/happiness of housewives, perception of homosexuality, oyakoukou (filial piety), work dynamics, collectivism and the stress of shuushoku katsudou ("job hunting") among others.
The most striking thing as a student would most definitely be "experiencing" those phenomena. No matter how much one reads or researches, the 'click' moment didn't come to me until watching this drama. Until now, herbivore men had been a mere concept - a niche group of strange men no-one knew about. After Hoshino Gen's endearing performance, however, I felt myself relate and connect to a lifestyle I always found myself unable to picture. More than anything, it was a refreshing take on Japanese society - the good, the bad and the ugly - that doesn't ever really get shown on television in a non-condescending way.
'Nigeru wa haji da ga yaku ni tatsu' not only depicts Japanese society freshly and without disdain, but challenges the everyday thoughts, relationship dynamics and ideals of the Japanese. A moment that particularly stood out for me was in episode one, when the character of Moriyama Mikuri contemplates the worth of housework as an occupation, and how her changing opinion on the monetary and meaningful value of housework changes in further episodes. Another particularly notable example for me was the character of Tsuzaki Hiramasa's ideas about homosexuals and how they change in a brief conversation. Most of all, the drama in essence, had the purpose of challenging traditional and changing ideas of "love". Marriage without love, love with someone you can't marry, the lines and blurs between relationships and the beautiful sentiment of loving ourselves, and allowing ourselves to love others.
As for the drama technically speaking:
CAST
Lovely cast fully of well-known and lesser-known professionals, who provided a diverse range of looks and personality to the show. I had high hopes for Hoshino Gen, and he really delivered in my opinion. Aragaki Yui is just as lovely as ever and never fails to impress. The side characters were also extremely impressive, though I won't delve into it.
SOUNDTRACK
I won't even touch Koi (the ending title, Love) because I think it speaks for itself. The rest of the soundtrack did however put me off a little. It was quite typical of a Japanese drama, which was relatively welcome, but the repetitious backtracks and instrumentals always turn me off a bit. It was no means bad though, and well used -- never a classic "where's the music??" realisation moment.
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Loved it. I'm no expert, but the TV-themed cuts were absolutely hilarious and really well shot as well. You really do notice a difference between drama and the other TV styles it depicts. I also thought the "hanky-panky" (as the subtitlers opted for) was interesting and rather cute. Nothing ever sore to the eye.
I really do love this drama - it is definitely one of the best I have seen objectively. I have my own tastes and favourites, but in terms of quality and just likeability as a drama, I really can't fault it. Anyone who is interested in watching it - try reading a little deeper and you won't be disappointed.
Was this review helpful to you?
On the other hand, the actors were not exactly mind-blowing, except for maybe Eun Oh's mom. The rewatch value is sorta low because the drama is mostly suspenseful, and all that suspense would be gone if the drama was rewatched.
Over all, I would say give Arang a go, though! If only for Yoo Seung Ho's hotness ^__^
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
First half 10, second half 0
I managed to finish this drama, just out of morbid curiosity to see how far they would go.
The first half of the drama is fantastic: the dynamics between the characters, scenography, ost, thematic... A little gem that left a good feeling after each episode. I really enjoyed it.
The second half was horrible: it becomes out of nowhere an extremely misogynistic CEO-poor girl drama (and it also has many script flaws).It gave the feeling of watching a pamphlet about what a young woman should desire and how she should behave. (it really makes me wonder if it was made as a propaganda to promote traditional marriage).
If you want to watch it go ahead, (he looks amazing... why deny it) but chew it a little before swallow because everything in their relationship is wrong. Kisses without consent, infantilization of the woman, wife waiting at home for the husband to return, the general idea that you have to put up with your partner shitty behaving because he loves you... just to name a few...
A pity, really. It promised a lot and ended up this way.
Was this review helpful to you?
1No logic, no cohesiveness, no brain… and I have no self respect for watching this.
When watching this movie, every new revelation made me ask one simple question “why?” - everything about the characters, their relationship and plot progression was so unnatural all I could do was laugh about the piling up cliches.Alpha male with a soft heart and an innocent kid with a warm nature will give you a second hand embarrassment with every little ridiculous interaction and painful dialogues. Who needs decent writing when you can just throw poorly executed cliches at your audience?
And the ending? I don’t think I would manage to write something similar even on crack. What happened? How high were the characters? How high was the writer? It took me 30 minutes to finish the last 10 minutes. I kept pausing because my brain could not take this level of prolonged idiocy.
Acting wise… I think it’s time for me to leave the delulu land and admit Zee is not really a good actor, he is just good at delivering heart eyes. It truly pains me to say, since I basically wrote an essay about how amazing of an actor with great potential he has 4 years ago. On the other hand NuNew did quite well trying to deliver good performance even though the script made it an impossible task.
Overall, I regret watching it alone. I think this is a perfect title to group watch and joke about all the stuff that makes no sense. The movie truly invites you to rant your heart out.
Was this review helpful to you?
1This review may contain spoilers
Chatgpt, how do I make my own honey?... Asking for my uncle Bob.
"Did I mean so little to you? You were never supposed to mean anything at all." ---> Crying session's open at my house, please take a down on the next cliff. Honey will be provided, bring your own tissues. Also, does Jin see anything with that hairstyle? Dude out there looking like spiritual ingredients. I'm surprised he didn't get hit by a bus. And I'm sorry, but are we supposed to ask about the wings? What's the deal with the wings?Listen, you need only one reason, and one reason alone to watch this drama. SMARTBOOM. You're welcome.
Now, I don't know about y'all, but imma get myself one of them net hat and start my own bee farm, cuz apparently you need lots of honey to have that good of a time. A time so good, Akin was legit floating in the galaxies, waay past cloud 9, dude was on some milky way bliss. He had such a good time, he could breathe in space. Also, that honey was a paid actor, mfker was still in colour even in black and white. Such a drama queen. Lowkey, I'm still wondering about the rag. Did he make it? Nah but, that Honey scene was art, they should flame it and replace it with the Mona Lisa at the Louvre. Cuz everything from the colours, to the setting, to the positions, to the music, to the camera work, to the actors, to the poor rag, to me rewinding was perfect. Also after all that and no cold? Damn, they must have sweated the whole sickness out ^^ good for them.
Anyway, this drama was amazing. Was it a never been done before plot, no. But it was executed so well with good believable acting. Fam, Boom's acting was beautiful, someone give that boy his flowers and triple his pay. He was so good in every scene, and that scene in episode 7 when he broke down in relief, my god I wept. He's incredible. That being said, we get it Mr. Director, Bxxm's a beautiful, pretty, cute crier, but do you have to make Akin cry every episode? I am running out of tissues, enough already, give over. Someone on this production owes me money for tissues, cuz, why?
And of course, Smart held his own, especially in ep9, he did his big one there, so kudos to him too. Actually, the cast overall weren't bad, even that table spoon Johnson. So yeah, another reason to watch this. Trust me, it's a breath of fresh air to not always have to scream, 'dude come on, what are you doing with your eyebrows, and why you look like you sniffing glue' whenever some of these bl actors start crying.
I loved every second of this drama, but my favourite scene was in episode 4, no not the honey. It was before the honey, when Akin thought Jun was ignoring him and got disoriented all day. I love how Akin was so sad and afraid of losing Jun, so he was begging to have his way just once. 'Just once would be good enough' I cried. And then Jun assured him that he wasn't ignoring him but rather keeping his distance so he wouldn't catch his cold. When they hugged, I cried and clapped. That scene was so warm, five more of those please. Oh and that confrontation scene in the car. It broke me and I cried but it was so beautifully done.
AKIN:
Loved him, my most fav character. If you ask me, he did nothing wrong. 10/10 character with a natural blush that would make people go to war for him. We met him as his lone star who kept to himself, full of himself really, though with a good heart. Then Jun brought him out of his shell and he fell in love and we learned he's also selfless, caring, supportive and loves so deeply. I cried with him when Johnny did what he did to him. Personally, I understood why Akin got out of the car then, he had to. So yes, Akin is a drama queen, loves the bottle a little too much, cries a lot, make questionable decisions, but he's only human and he's perfect.
That being said, I roll my eyes at self sacrificing idiots who means well but have the iq of a potato. Cuz what the eff was that stupid arse plan he had with that shady dude that looked like tasteless popcorn? Mfker acting like a superhero from Shein. Dude are you new to the entertainment industry? If you don't go sit down. Also, imma need Akin to stop with the breakup, here take back your necklace every 2-3 business days. Cuz child why is you trippin? Boy your arse knows you aint even gonna make it to Tuesday without Jin, so why the drama? I love you, but stop playing, like, give it a rest Susan, let us and Jin have some peace.
Also tmi, this have nothing to do with nothing, but I've been stalking Bxxm's socials since last Monday, and I'm this close to googling how the kidnap a thai actor and his Smart. This close... hihi.
JIN:
Another fav character. This guy loved like a hurricane, he didn't care what was in his way, his objective was Akin, and he was ready to destroy everything to get him. And that Wooden Boy got his P'Kin. He was a green flag but high-key shading yellow, cuz he did some questionable stuff. Still, I loved how hard and unapologetic his love was. Felt like Jin literally only wanted to be a star to get with Akin and I respect that, cuz in his life, Akin came #1-10, and then everything else started from 11. He was so protective of Akin and understanding. In fact, his whole character was to be Akin's love interest and he made Akin his whole personality. He was so patient with Akin that it was flat out annoying, cuz why is you letting Akin break up with you every Wednesday and still simping? Get a hobby child.
No really, when Akin's dramatic arse walked in talking about, 'let's break up but have one last tatata section.' I thought he was going to say hell no, but Jun and his eye-poking arse hairstyle were like: 'alright, get on, ride boy.' GIRL, when I tell you at first I was screaming at my screen going, 'Akin, I know you mean well, but if you don't go sit down with your temu quality arse stupid plan, it's on sight.' Then it was 'OMG, what the eff did he just say? Mean nothing at all? Don't you dare make me cry, child!' No, but like the way Akin was out there riding and crying made me emotionally confused, cuz I was angry, sad, and lowkey wanting to tilt my screen to see something...cuz...yeah.
Anyway, his blinding hair aside, I felt bad for Jun. It seemed except for Akin he had no support system, cuz his team just sucked. Like that one Ceo of the company who looked like a disposal cup, literally what was that dude’s damage? Did he have some beef with Akin, or he was just mad Jin didn’t follow his schedule one time? Did he not care Jin's demise would cost him money? Like, what was his itch? Arrggg, walk into traffic pretty please.
JOHNNY:
We need to normalise driving people to remote island and leaving them there with a plastic knife and a sim-less phone with 3% battery. Joshua here had me planning a hit on a fictional character. And the fact that there was no repercussions for what he did to Akin? Mfker got pinched one time and the writers were like, 'that's enough punishment, he bruises easy.' Like?? It's on sight, Jeremiah!
JADE:
He was at least there for Akin and gave good advice, unlike those managers of Jin. So, we all low-key lost our breaths for a second in that one scene when Jade pinned Akin to the floor right? Like you all saw what I saw right...? And did he do something with the ranking in episode 5? What the hell was up with that? Explain yourself Bob.
PLOT:
It wasn't new, not very meaty either and most of the characters felt one-dimensional, literally that Joe dude was in the drama to cause that trouble, then he sort of faded to the background. Still, the main story was done very well, so you'd barely notice the one dimensional characters. I personally really enjoyed what we got. Though a few things I questioned:
- Jin's company being bish arse, like mfker do you want to cancel him or let him make you money? Dafug was up with that whole framing thing? Stupid. Jin's team just suck.
- The whole grape plot could have been handled better instead of glossing over it and Jacob just going about with his life, and lowkey being their friend? Excuse you?
- Also that one child, thanks for the use of your uniform, but whats you doing in this honey fest, don’t you have homework?
FINALE:
To the fanfic writer that wrote this finale... girl why? We were this:close.
Anywho, all-in-all, there were positive and negatives things about this drama, but when all is said and done, the overall show was amazing and enjoyable. Bxxm's believable acting was the highlight for me. If I have to mention all the good things, we'd be here until Christmas, so do yourself a favour and go watch it with your own eyeballs. You won't regret it, I highly recommend it. I'm seated for SmartBoom's future dramas. This is going straight to the list of my most favourite bls this year.
Sooo, where do people usually get their bees from? Like do I just go to the pet store and say I want to purchase some bees? Or do I have to go into the forest and hunt them myself with a stick, you know, poke and capture?
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Love, Betrayal, and Kingdoms. A Historical BL That Will Leave You Breathless
I’m absolutely hooked! 😍 The chemistry between the two male leads is electrifying........seriously, the way they look at each other, the way they hold hands in such a sexual manner? The tension in every single glance? It’s pure chef’s kiss 😘🔥 And those kisses… wow. There were so many, especially for a C-BL. Honestly, I was not expecting that, but it was great!=====PLOT/CHARACTERS/SHU HE AND DU ZI ANG======
The series centers on the battle between two kingdoms, the South and the North, as both plot and scheme to gain the upper hand in an increasingly tangled conflict.
We have Xiao Shu He, the 6th prince. He’s clever, considerate, kind, and charming. He reconnects with a childhood friend, Duan Ziang, who saved his life not once but twice (the second time was intentional to get close to him so he could find a way to assassinate the crown prince, since the first attempt had failed). They’re both ''somewhat'' scheming, but in completely different ways. One is sharp, intelligent, and perceptive—always staying one step ahead—while the other is driven by a thirst for revenge and hatred. The tension between their motives makes their dynamic all the more compelling. But fate is cruel. Despite their growing connection, neither can truly be happy—duty to their respective kingdoms always stands in the way. Yet in a shocking turn at the end of episode 8, Duan Ziang kills the South’s Crown Prince… to protect Shu He, fracturing their relationship.
You know, I kind of feel bad for Xiao Shu He. He just wanted to be a wanderer, free to do whatever he wanted: play music, write poetry, and create art. Meanwhile, Duan Ziang wanted nothing more than to be by his side through it all, even if it meant defying orders and refusing to kill.
Five years have passed, Du Ziang is now the emperor, having waged war across all the kingdoms, securing power, only to be with Xiao Shu He. This is truly a "kill to love" story. Du Ziang, in his relentless pursuit of love, has done whatever it takes: killing enemies, betraying his own blood, and destroying anyone or anything that could threaten the memories and moments he cherishes with Shu He. Du Ziang is ruthless and consumed by his desire to have Shu He; driven by love, he rules with an iron fist, while Shu He governs with a gentler hand. It’s no surprise that the South’s kingdom crumbled under the weight of the North’s invasion, and Du Zi Ang captured Shuhe as his war prisoner/male pet.
Du Ziang remembers every intricate detail of the 6th manor, every corner that once held fleeting moments of peace and love between them- so much so that he rebuilt it. His devotion to Shu He is absolute. What began as a close friendship blossomed into love, but eventually, it all fell apart, which led to a painful emotional fallout. While Du Ziang’s love for Shu He remains unwavering, Shu He cannot forgive the betrayal of trust and the murder of his brother, the Crown Prince. Now, as rulers of opposing kingdoms, their relationship is torn apart by loyalty, duty, and the deep scars of their past actions.
Both men, trapped by their kingdoms, haunted by the choices they’ve made, and still deeply in love ❤️, must confront whether they can ever find happiness together—or if their destinies are too far gone to change. Like the red thread, a bloodied knife that cuts both their hairs, ties their souls, only to be reunited in another life. LOVED the ending.
=====OTHER CHARACTERS====
Of course, this was in the first few episodes: I’m also loving the tension and dynamics between the doctor, the crown prince, and his servant. The crown prince is envious of his brother, Xiao Shu He, and wants to kill him. I blame their father, honestly—classic favoritism. Anyway, the crown prince assigns his servant, Huo Ying, to spy on his brother. While doing so, Huo Ying meets the doctor, who genuinely cares for him. The crown prince’s thirst for power and need to prove himself backfired, leading to his downfall—ultimately resulting in his death at the hands of Duan Ziang. Not going to lie, I was deeply annoyed that he died so early. I really wanted to see the love story between Huo Ying and the crown prince develop further. But that death scene? It was so emotionally moving. The way it was handled, with all the tension and unspoken feelings, really hit hard. Even though it left me wanting more. Also, I liked that the brother of Du Ziang was always by his side when they found each other again.
=====ACTING=====
The acting starts off as average but gradually becomes more compelling. By the middle of the series, you can truly feel the hate, longing, love, tears, and heartbreak in the performances. The actors really bring these emotions to life, making you root for the characters, even when they're making morally questionable choices. Episodes 8, 9, and 10, in particular, stand out for their emotional depth.
=====PRODUCTION=====
The editing is somewhat sloppy, especially in the fight and intimate scenes, which often lack coherence/weren't done properly. One episode felt off from the start, with jarring transitions and unclear timelines; it took me a minute to even tell what was happening. That said, Episode 9 was an absolute standout. It was easily my favorite part of the series. The storytelling was on another level; everything from pacing to emotional depth felt well-executed.
The wuxia-style costumes are stunning, and the beautiful landscapes combined with impressive cinematography create a visually captivating experience.
=====FINAL THOUGHTS=====
There is so much going on in the series that this review doesn’t even begin to cover it. I was hooked the whole time—no skipping or fast-forwarding, which is rare for me! Barely any filler, which feels like a miracle in my book 📖. The pace is a bit fast (maybe because there are only 12 episodes), but I’m loving every minute. If you’re into historical BL, love kingdom battles, and crave characters who are deep, driven, and full of drama, then trust me, this one’s a must-watch.
Was this review helpful to you?
The drama is told mostly from our female lead point of view, korusawa kokoro who will hit you in the kokoro. She was a good athlete (judo) and her aim was to be part of the Olympic after suffering an injury she finds a new place in a manga editing company, odagiri joe plays her senior at work (sunbae, senpai, shesho, tensho) and followed by one of the best side characters that I've seen in my life.
The story follows the team mates and newbie mangaka wannabes into becoming mature and reaching mutual goals together, with hardly any lame moments this one was a beautiful ride.
Usually I watch a whole 11 episode jdrama in 2 days but I watched this slowly and rewatched many parts because I didn't want to finish it too soon.
The main goal of the team and kokoro is to get a Johan shuttai meaning a second printing on their mangas. Highly recommended for good drama lovers
9.2/10 from Johnson shampoo family.
Drama quotes:
“We all have wings that can't be seen, if you want to nurture splendid wings, read plenty of book"
"Read plenty of book, the shape of the book is the shape of a bird, just by reading it you'll have strong flexible wings, that's how you can fly anywhere"
"Writing a piece of work is like looking inside your own heart"
http://kissasian.com/Drama/Juhan-Shuttai
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
well-acted soul-transmigration story with one of the worst finale to date
Before diving into this, I'd like to say first that this show is an adaptation. The original material is a fairly popular webnovel, which tells a story about a outrageously loyal employee of one of the biggest fictional company in South Korea, Soonyang, who found himself transmigrated into the youngest grandson of the very company he worked for, Jin Do-jun just shortly after his death.I was plenty excited for this show because I've always loved stories with rebirth & transmigration in the center due to its satisfying face-slapping laced with revenge type of story and to some extent, Reborn Rich didn't disappoint. The show clearly was confident with its thrice-weekly airing time, the casting line-ups, and it was fascinating seeing the rating rose higher and higher the more we dive into the show. I was afraid the show wouldn't be able to intrigue but I was wrong. From episode 2 onwards, the story gradually layered itself with step-by-step of how Do-jun tries to slowly steal Soonyang under his grandpa's nose, and eventually announced himself that he'd buy the company to his grandpa himself.
Some episodes are fillers, but some episodes are pure fun & smart battle-of-wits, polished as familiar as it could have been with the history of business in South Korea that I couldn't seem to drop the show whenever those episodes were on. Basically, if we're talking about pace & story, the show was pretty unstable on maintaining its tension. And those broken tension were usually caused by the (highly) unnecessary loveline, which I still thought as the most useless part of the show. Why?Because it felt like a different show altogether when these 'lovely' scenes appeared. In a story where revenge and political intrigue played a pivotal role, a love-line, personally for me, only served as a distraction for the main character themselves. It was not helping that the writer didn't know how to make the romance work (didn't even give the depth for both Min-young & Do-jun, and then suddenly they're dating????PLS), and how the director didn't have the right style to present the heartfluttering bits amidst the intense power battle between these Soonyang people. In others episodes, sometimes the pace was too slow and sometimes it turned less interesting, which turned out to be the way it was simply because the writer wanted to the satisfying meat in the next episode.
Seeing these patterns played out a couple of times made me realize; ah, the writer wasn't able to control the story to be as equally engaging each episode, and what was more surprising is when I was gradually made aware that despite keeping the main story intact, there were many details & points from the original materials left out to make the show adaptable for the drama format. It was less obvious at first, but the more we got near to the ending the more I realized the wrongness of the story which eventually cultivated into that stupid-ass conclusion which COMPLETELY betrayed the essence of the entire story with that one episode alone. It's an understatement to say that I'm disappointed. And I couldn't even imagine what the webnovel readers would feel seeing that clusterfuck ending.
You know...when you write an adaptation, you must know the original material well enough to be able to make out a more engaging story out of it. You have to know what fits into the format, what to include and what to miss, and what to keep in mind. Reborn Rich is essentially a soul-transmigration story. A unbelievable story where a supporting character gets a chance of living a main character's life after their death, and with their knowledge of the future and all, makes the main character's life theirs by the end of the story. The pattern is obvious, what you'll get from the story is also obvious. And during the time I've read countless rebirth & transmigration story, there hasn't been ONE that has a mind-boggling conclusion like this one. Why?Because it betrayed the value, the fun, the very reason why people still flocking to these stories. Hyun-woo's supposed to live out his life as Jin Do-jun because that's what we're all invested for to read and watch, his journey to the top. His journey to seek the power and make all Soonyang people pay for his death and everything. But to get that, there's gotta be a real & heavy consequences; he's in the place where he could never wish for and will never get for even if he's working himself to death for years. And he was also, if we're talking about the same show, obviously died in the first episode. His death is the key to the beginning of the story. It's because he was dead that he transmigrated. It was because he's gone that he had a revenge. It was because he's dead that we watched the whole ass show.
And now you're telling me he wasn't dead?
Then what about those 17 years of him living his life as Jin Do-jun?
Was by the end of the story the biggest victim of all happen to be Do-jun who got brutally used as a plot device and abandoned just like that because Yoon Hyun-woo was simply dreaming about those years in a span of a week?Because his head is apparently more solid than a rock stone even being shot in the head doesn't make him die?????????
Because the show is so all smart that all they could do is to use truck-of-doom repetitively and escaped all the consequences?????
What the fuck is this.
And more of the reason to not like this conclusion is because it betrayed the entire story of what was supposed to be an adaptation. Because the webnovel is sure as hell isn't played out like this. Because the scriptwriter of this show got fucking greedy and crossed the damn line they shouldn't have; they disrespect the entire webnovel. They disrespect the original material just because they could and just because they think the whole story is theirs to write. BUT IT FUCKING IS NOT. THIS IS AN ADAPTATION. THERE'S A LINE AND LIMIT TO NOT BE CROSSED OVER AND THAT CONCLUSION??????THAT'S NOT IT.
I was able to overlook the writer's stupid ass decision to change the subplot here and there, adding the unnecessary romance, or making the grandpa's death lame as fuck despite him being one of the powerful characters in the show. I could forgive alllll that. Because they didn't change the flow of the story. But the finale did. In more ways than we all could imagine. Because it showed that the creator of this show didn't understand what must be done to deliver a transmigration story. They didn't understand the genre. The respect and love for these works, and why we came to love these superficial stories that weren't realistically possible but served as a satisfying read every single time. And to think I was excited when I first heard about the show...........and now I'm just angry. Disappointed but angrier at how they managed make a mess of a story that could have been turned out really good. If possibe, I'd highly recommend watching it only until episode 15 (minus the last few minutes of the ending). The last episode is entirely different story that shouldn't have been a part of this show. Period.
Even if I had complains here and there about the plot and the story, in terms of acting, the whole show is nothing less than perfect. Everyone in Soonyang were all so good I had nothing to nitpick; they also had personalities and some performances stood out than the other. It was also the reason why I stick so long for the show. Lee Sung-min was just............amazing. Flawless. Best acting performances I've seen this year. I wish we could see more of his chemistry with Song Joong-ki's character but nonetheless he was still such a huge blast to watch. Kim Shin-rok was absolutely killing her role too, and the tension between Kim Nam-hee and Park Ji-hyun in every single scene they're in are deliciously impeccable. I love nearly all the performances from Soonyang family members. They're all solid and know how to maintain that special intensity between the scenes. The music was just okay (sometimes I loved it, sometimes I don't), and well after seeing the ending, I didn't think I'd have a high rewatch value for the show.
Overall, Reborn Rich is a show that has its ups and downs throughout the story, delivery an intense power struggle between family members of one of the biggest fictional company in South Korea. The original material itself is very solid, and the way the story followed and reflected into past years of real business industry in South Korea was new and refreshing too. Featured strong and powerful performances, I don't think there's a reason you wouldn't want to watch the show. At least until episode 15.
Was this review helpful to you?
When one is difficult in expressing oneself, what it would be like? Misunderstood? This drama focuses on that expect. Gives lesson in life that sometime all we need is a listener. The story is really good and it isn't that bad like others used to say. A kind of drama that would make you say.. Glad I did start it. It's cute, fun to watch, some drama scenes with plot-twist
The start was ok to me, some scenes were quite bothersome from few first ep but it did change you know! The story start to pick up from ep6 and it will get better and better.
bonus: It will take you back to Another Miss Oh feels if you ever did watched that drama. :)
Characters:
Each character has its own story and struggles. That's what I like about it. How one's grow and conquered their fear/insecurity/depression/weakness. The characters was like I started from here and look at me now.
Hwan Gi: this guy is so easy to love, sweet, gentle, kind and considerate... xD every awkward moments with him is so cute. You'll find yourself cheering for him in every step of the way. He'll also make you proud, I am so confident about it!~ plus there's a bonus, look forward to his dance moves.
Chae Ro Woon: yeah this girl is not easy to like, she could get all the hate, annoying and bothersome well she did all those because she's in a revenge mode but her character will have some development just wait and see.
Ji Hye: this character would make curious and say why? No matter what's the decision she made/ the reason behind it no one should judge a person lowly.
Kang Woo: The guy I used to misunderstood about his relationship with Hwan Gi but I was wrong about him. He is the character I want to improve the most/open-up along with Yi-Soo
Yi Soo: I find her role pretty dull from the start but surprisingly there's more color into her.
Yun Jung: my fav character. You'll like her for sure with her straight forward/honest/mature personality.
Silent Monster Team:were all good. my fav from the group is Sun Bong.
Even it was short I love the bromance and the tandem of Kang Woo and Yi Soo.
Actor/Actress
Shout out to Gong Seung Yeon for portraying her role effectively, such a good actress, I was totally immersed with her, I cried. Also to Yoon Park unlike his usual role as someone who is calm, serious in here he was different and I like it. He gets drunk, shouts, play, a free kind of character, a new side of him that I didn't see in his other drama.
As to Yeo Woo Jin I love his role here the most compared to his other dramas
Park Hye Soo there are times that I see her like a kid but it's ok she manages to act well.
OST: I like the ost and music, thanks to it I always keep up with the phase of the story as to emotions, didn't get bored because of it.
Overall:
Meter feels as to fangirl is sometimes up sometimes or just straight line. My excitement and overflowing feels disappeared along the way maybe because I start a new drama but despite that everytime I watch a new ep I still like it. A good romcom.
Recommendation: Oh yes to those who are into romcom you could enjoy this drama especially to the one who are shy/introverted/difficult expressing oneself I think you could relate over it.
Just don't overanalyze it like the others who use to complain with the title because they think the guy is isn't introverted at all instead with an anxiety attack.lol.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Skip to the JohanNorth parts
This series might have been rated higher if it was based solely off the Johan North storyline. I had so many issues with the first couple. From the actors to the storyline to the script. Wasn't sure if was the character design or the actor but the character Easter just wasn't all that likeable. The acting felt very unnatural, a lot of strange face-pulling, exaggerated sighing, dramatic whining, yup nope. And the character Hill was so one-dimensional, and because I've seen the actor's other work, it's hard to believe that it was poor acting. The chemistry between the two felt extremely scripted and awkward. This is cliche done poorly. yawns...As for the second couple, they had a more interesting backstory, more natural dialogue, amazing chemistry and their script had a good mix of humour, drama and fluff. North grew on me over the course of his story and I was pleasantly surprised by the acting cos i had originally thought he was designed to be the "clown" and expected his acting to be over-the-top and cringey. This pair created so many heart fluttering moments with a good old enemies to lovers storyline, add on an interesting power imbalance with the debtor-creditor situation and a tsundere proud faced rich boy with a secret long term crush for a sassy, clueless, happy-go-lucky loser who has a ridiculous fear for ghosts and you've got me hooked. My two favourite scenes from this pair were when they reunited after Johan was a away for a few weeks, and when they were sitting next to each other in silence but in complete bliss during a basketball practice. This is cliche done right.
If you're looking for a fluffy series with a good tsundere rich boy-clueless poor dork dynamic I suggest skipping to the parts with Johan North i.e. episode 6 onward.
Was this review helpful to you?
they better stay with me
did i love addicted? yes.do i love this even more? shit, i might.
but then again, i am absolutely a sucker for found family, and this is just that. also, the tension between wubi and suyu? it it clear they're drawn to each other, in the most beautiful way ever, i'm not sure they're even aware of it most of the time themselves, but it is clear, that they'd do whatever it takes to save the other, no matter what happens to them - which is also, more than clear in the last episode.
and with that said - what the fuck was that last episode? i think i might still be sobbing, currently writing this through my TEARS. there better be a season two - and soon.
wubi and suyu deserve nothing but happiness and all of the love in the world.
is this a hard BL? no, but is it still a BL? most definitely, which was obvious to me, very quickly - the stolen touches, the stolen glances? the possessiveness? we don't always need kisses, we don't need physical touch for there to be love.
Was this review helpful to you?
The lead characters were amazing in their roles, and so were the guest appearances in each case. Kim Kang Woo as Gil Su Hyun was such a troubled character. He has a deep darkness, and an extremely cute side. I love that he's no cheesy idealist. He will get blood on his hand, not for the sake of justice, but only to make the world a bit less awful. He's not faultless, as we see his view is not absolute, but he seeks the same satisfying ending I want. His frustration would always reflect mine. Next is Park Hee Soon playing Detective Oh Dae Yeong, who's personality it pretty much the opposite of Su Hyun. He's pretty loud and outgoing, and his life is mostly in the light with a happy family. He got many years of experience making him very perceptive. Seeing his trail of thoughts and the way follows track is engrossing. The two guys have the chemistry and the perfect foil for each other. Rounding up the team is Jo Bo Ah as Jin Seo Jun. Though much younger and beautiful, she did convince me of her being a focused hacker and smart. I enjoyed the sunbae-Maknae feel.
Other interesting characters were those involved in the cases. Though Su Hyun was supposed to be the genius of the show, those perpetrator were the geniuses. The performances were dazzling for a number of cases totally broke my heart.
Other than the cases and character, I like how the theme was forming subtly little by little each episode, until we got to the last episode. I find they quoted it perfectly:
- Currently we are living in a world that's filled with the fruit of injustice
- A History of injustice manipulating justice to kill off justice
I enjoy my mysteries, but since it is embedded so well with such a deep theme about law and justice, it reveals a deeper message that the drama is telling the viewer, leaving us in deep thought about the matter.
I would highly recommend this drama for anyone who enjoyed TEN or OCN dramas, and mysteries in general. There isn't any romance but, there is bromance at a more understated level as well as camaraderie.
Was this review helpful to you?
As I mentioned above, the story itself isn't original and it actually doesn't follow the original My Sassy Girl that closely. In the first couple of episodes, you can recognize a couple of scenes and situations, and the main character's friends have a similar profession/hobby, but that's about it. There are also quite a few modern Korean culture and society refrences used, which had me chuckling. All in all I do recommend this drama, despite it being so similar to others. It's still a fun watch.
Was this review helpful to you?
