This review may contain spoilers
Sketch is well written, acted and directed. The premise of the drama is interesting and there are some great twists and turns. It has great action and emotion. I was taken aback by how far the writer was willing to go. Also, I love the fact that I wasn't sure where it was going at times. There are a lot of predictable dramas out there where I usually figure out what is going to happen, but this drama kept me guessing. The characters have depth and helped drive the drama. it is rare for both the pace of a story and the characters to come together so well. The writer did a good job connecting the dots. I didn't feel like I was left wanting and the ending was well done. I like how the writer made the 1% seem like they are untouchable unless the 99% get together to stop them. I wish people didn't judge money as success. There are a lot of ways to be successful in life with out money. All of the actors are good. Of course, Rain as Kang Dong Soo, Lee Sun Bin as Yoo Shi Hyun and Lee Dong Gun as Kim Do Jin were daebak. But Lee Seung Joo stole the show as Yoo Si Joon. I was so into his character and what drove him. It is hard to write a lot with out giving a way spoilers.
The music is good. Especially what they used for suspense.
I will probably rewatch this at some point.
If you like gritty, suspense with a little supernatural thrown in, then you will like this. I recommend it highly.
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Amazing in a lot of ways, but the story is a hit-or-miss
Do NOT read this review if you don't want spoilers.Spoiler-free tl;dr version: the cinematography, acting, music, everything is really good. The storyline is also mostly good but there are some aspects that go a little overboard and may be frustrating. The ending felt a little offputting to me; it felt like there wasn't enough closure compared to the things that happened. At the same time, I feel like this is a case of hit-or-miss, what was frustrating to me may not be to you. Nevertheless, its definitely worth the watch.
I heard a lot of good things about this show and barely even halfway into the first episode I could see why. The way the premise was set, the storytelling, the characterization, everything had me hooked. But in the latter half I felt like I was ready for it to be over already. Not even sure why I'm being so critical of this one, considering I've loved a lot of worse shows, but I think the first couple of episodes set the bar so high that the rest couldn't really meet those expectations and ended up feeling somewhat frustrating.
To start with, the cinematography is absolutely brilliant, and so are the actors. The music just ties it up together to bring you the perfect package.
I love the characterization of Teh and Oh, they're so different but at the same time have so much in common. I especially like the characterization of Oh as a "feminine" gay man but not falling into the typical cliches or being portrayed as a caricature of both women and feminine gay men. Teh's main characteristics are both his high points and his pitfalls: he practically communicates through grand gestures, be it the negatives or the positives, and finds it really hard to acknowledge his true feelings. He would leave everything and make a picture book so that the man he loves can study but can't freaking communicate with that man. The storyline isn't new, it's closer to overdone in romances, but I liked the way it was interpreted here. Starting with their childhood friendship, the fallout and the getting back together set the stage for the show very well.
I also loved the way them relearning each other and getting closer was showcased. Ironic as it may be, Teh helping Oh hit on Bas was one of my favorite arcs, it seriously gave me those bestie vibes and I loved seeing that.
Now for the downhill curve of the storyline... Well, I was expecting the angst but not quite in this way. Teh being in denial of his feelings was absolutely expected, but that didn't make the way he treated Oh any less damaging. I was so pissed at him in that scene after the kiss when he tells Oh that they were just friends. It's one thing to deny your own feelings, but his actions, even if inadvertently, were leading Oh on and he refused to give him any actual clarity. Oh was at fault too for continuing to push someone who was obviously not ready, but I feel like everything would've been a lot simpler if Teh actually talked to Oh and addressed what was going on between them instead of doubling down on other aspects and ignoring the elephant in the room.
The issue was that Teh was doing the most for Oh but not giving him what he actually wanted. He was breaking Oh's heart but then overcompensating for it through grand gestures. It was fine till making the book for him, but then the whole "throwing away his own future" thing happened and I almost smashed my laptop. I know they're teenagers so of course they aren't going to do everything right, but you would rather throw away the future you worked so hard for, throw away your and your family's dream, instead of simply talking to Oh once? And again, very expectedly, Oh chose not to "steal" his dream. The second person on that waiting list must have sent them a lot of blessings. This part really frustrated me lol.
Things just continued to go wrong from there, but honestly? This would all have been fine if they gave it a good resolution. But to me the resolution felt incomplete. The conversation with Hoon addressed his sexuality, but the guilt that drove him to do so much was largely unaddressed. Yes, internalized homophobia is a bitch, but in this one I would've appreciated if they actually brought up the things we saw throughout the show, mainly feeling guilty for the way he had treated Oh and the frustration that even after doing so much literally nothing good came out of it: he lost his seat at his dream college, he screwed up his chances at getting into the normal program, and he also lost Oh as both a friend and romantic interest. Honestly the way it was just boiled down to internalized homophobia kinda put me off. Yes, that may have been the root cause, but I kinda expected them to actually address the fact that his overcompensation did more harm than good. Subtext is fine too though.
I also had a major case of second lead syndrome for Bas. Honestly Bas was pretty much the boyfriend Oh deserved to have, so to see him with someone who was actually on the same page as him actually made me feel like I would've preferred this ship more. Like honestly, take the premise and make it a romcom about Teh helping Oh win Bas' heart lol, I need that brightness now.
Overall it was still an amazing show, and maybe after a rewatch it'll feel less offputting, but the main issue tbh was that it started out way too well for the devolving into your average drama to feel justified. At the same time, it felt like it ended too abruptly. I feel like there should've been more closure after all that went down.
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Soundtrack #2: A second chance love story
Soundtrack #2 tell the story of two ex-lovers who broke up due to unavoidable circumstances and problem. They meet again after 4 years but the thing is, sparks still fly between them, unsaid feeling still hurt.TROPES- Ex-lover, rags to riches ML, strong willed FL, lovers to strangers to lover, love traingle.
Soundtrack #2 feels like a typical romance drama, except it's only a few hours long. But, the portrayal of the "lovers to strangers to lovers" trope/EX-LOVER trope feels very realistic and pragmatic.
The story is straightforward, but the manner in which it is told is entertaining.
We see the ML's POV and side of story both post and pre breakup, which is great BUT we never see the FL's POV. Which literally makes the FL look like the villian in their story. The ML's POV make you sympathize with him. His character is really likable and outgoing which again makes the FL's almost secretive and grumpy character look evrn more bad.
Even the FL's reason for the way she acted in the past and present were NOT strong enough to make me understand her. Honestly she felt like the problem.
Their acting was excellent though, specially the actor playing the ML. They were able to accurately convey the emotions of the characters. I don't have much to say about their performance. I enjoyed their chemistry.
The music was also okayish, like i didn't really find a single song i would love to add to my Playlist.
This is a nice drama to watch if you want something short. There isn't much else to say about this brief drama but it was nice enough to watch if you are bored.
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Heart-Pounding, Beautiful Romance, Sad Story
When I first started watching this drama, I, like many viewers who only made it through the first couple of episodes before dropping it, found it awkward. Liang Jie’s acting felt unnatural, the dialogue was stilted, and even Chen Zhe Yuan had his moments of awkwardness. However, I kept watching—partly because Chen Zhe Yuan looks incredible in tactical gear and partly because he won me over when he rescued the female lead and held her tightly to protect her. That moment was undeniably heart-throbbing.Initially, my impression was quite critical. The script felt weak, the conversations lacked depth, and the romance scenes moved at a frustratingly slow pace. Even moments of physical contact felt cringeworthy. However, by episode 11, my perspective changed. I found myself moved, unexpectedly shedding tears as I began to feel the characters' pain, suffering, and emotional turmoil.
The first 11 episodes take place in war zones, immersing viewers in a world of chaos and danger. After that, the characters return to China, only for the male lead to head back to the war zone in episode 25, with the female lead following shortly after. By the time they both return to China in episode 37, they are broken.
Story & Themes
White Olive Tree is based on the experiences of Song Ran, who witnessed firsthand the horrors of a war-torn country, met Li Zan, and lost friends along the way. At its core, this is a story about PTSD—one that highlights how only those who have endured combat can truly understand each other’s pain.
It delves into the grim realities of war: terrorists planting landmines in fields, car bombs in crowded plazas, suicide attacks, and the ever-present fear of death. Beyond that, it’s a story of camaraderie, love, loss, and survival—a deeply disturbing yet hauntingly beautiful tale of romance set against a backdrop of war, courage, and heroism.
While the pacing is fast and tense during action sequences, it slows down significantly during romantic scenes. Dialogue is minimal, often relying on long pauses rather than words. However, despite the sparse conversation, the longing between the leads is palpable through their gazes.
Another theme this drama explores is the role of journalism in war reporting. While many reporters cover conflicts from the safety of hotel rooms, Song Ran immerses herself in the battlefield, capturing raw footage and firsthand accounts. Unlike journalists who chase fame and prestige—seeking recognition and lucrative rewards for their coverage—Song Ran is driven by a desire to reveal the unfiltered truth to the world.
This theme subtly critiques the bias of mainstream media, highlighting the contrast between sanitized, agenda-driven reporting and the unvarnished realities on the ground. It also underscores why platforms like TikTok have become a political battleground. While traditional media often relies on controlled narratives from a distance, grassroots reporting on social media has empowered ordinary people to document and share real-time footage, frequently challenging and exposing inaccuracies in mainstream coverage.
Characters & Acting
Li Zan (Chen Zhe Yuan)
Li Zan is a bomb expert, a professional building demolition engineer, and a volunteer diffuser in a foreign war-torn country that strongly resembles Syria. He is compassionate, selfless, and undeniably lovable, a role that Chen Zhe Yuan brings to life convincingly.
While he looks young and has an almost boyish charm, his performance in emotional scenes is commendable. His crying scenes are particularly raw and moving, capable of bringing viewers to tears. Despite his somewhat stiff and robotic voice at times, his portrayal of PTSD is gripping and heart-wrenching. His action scenes, particularly in tactical gear, are well-crafted and believable, making him captivating to watch.
Song Ran (Liang Jie)
Liang Jie naturally exudes an air of awkwardness, which works well for her portrayal of Song Ran, a war reporter. Initially, her character can be frustrating—she jumps to conclusions too quickly, is clueless about war zones, and is often oblivious to danger. However, as the story progresses and her backstory unfolds, her independent yet vulnerable nature becomes more understandable.
Having grown up without a mother and feeling like an outsider in her father’s new family, Song Ran developed a strong sense of independence. However, once she meets Li Zan, she finds herself relying on him, as he consistently has her back. Liang Jie’s acting improves significantly after episode 11, making her character much more likable.
Both Chen Zhe Yuan and Liang Jie have a youthful appearance, almost reminiscent of high school students, which at times makes their pairing feel slightly off in such a heavy setting.
Supporting Characters
The banter between Sa Xin and Benjamin is a highlight, with their playful insults adding humor to an otherwise intense story. However, the long pauses between their dialogues sometimes make their exchanges feel overly calculated, losing the natural spontaneity of real banter. That said, Benjamin, played brilliantly by Wang Tian Chen, stands out as one of the most compelling characters aside from Li Zan.
OST & Cinematic Elements
The soundtrack is a major strength of the drama, featuring beautiful slow ballads in both English and Chinese, often accompanied by acoustic instruments. The music enhances the emotional depth of the scenes, making moments of love, loss, and suffering even more poignant. At times, the combination of the soundtrack and the visuals is enough to move viewers to tears.
The cinematography successfully captures the realism of war zones, military barracks, and battle sequences. Explosions, gunfights, and chaotic war-torn landscapes are executed convincingly.
Final Thoughts
The setting of the war zone bears a striking resemblance to Syria, and the political undertones of the story evoke real-world conflicts. The thought of a foreign superpower toppling a government that Li Zan is volunteering for, leaving the region in ruins and handing control over to terrorists who kill innocent civilians that Li Zan and his friends are trying to save, is deeply unsettling. The drama subtly mirrors these harsh realities, making its themes all the more impactful.
While I was initially critical of the acting and dialogue, the emotional depth of the later episodes won me over. Those who have experienced war or PTSD may find this drama particularly resonant. Beyond its romance, it paints a harrowing picture of the tragedies faced by people in war zones—parallels that may evoke sympathy for the struggles of Palestinians, Syrians, and others suffering in conflict-ridden regions.
Despite its awkward moments and slow pacing in certain areas, the intensity of the bomb disposal scenes and combat sequences compensates for these shortcomings. The war-torn landscapes feel authentic, and the emotional weight of the story lingers long after the credits roll. However, the length of the series begins to drag, particularly around episode 30, making it a challenge to endure all the angst and suffering alongside the characters.
The drama currently holds a low rating of 5.4 on Douban, likely due to, among others, its ambiguous ending, where the leads seemingly vanish and reappear in spiritual form, leaving viewers questioning their fate. Though the wounds on Li Zan's body have healed, the scars in his heart and mind last forever. The final message—that sometimes death is preferable to living in endless pain—is hauntingly tragic. The ending forces one to reflect on sacrifice, war, and the depths of human suffering, leaving an emotional imprint long after the last scene fades.
Side note
According to a viewer who has read the novel, dropped the drama and gave it a 4.5 rating, the original story has been drastically altered, diluting the emotional depth of the romance and making it far less heart-wrenching. While Chen Zhe Yuan delivers a brilliant performance as Li Zan, the screenplay does a disservice to Song Ran, reducing her character to an unlikable and poorly developed version of her novel counterpart.
Despite these flaws in the adaptation, I still love the story. I can only imagine how much more inspiring and emotionally impactful the original work must have been.
Great watch! Prepare to cry!
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In this drama there are people who deserve to get all the happiness in the world which were taken from them since the beginning. And there are people who deserve to be slapped in the face. The comedy is great, with all the grandmas and moms. BUT IF you are going to watch this drama bring a bottle of punch and a box of tissue, because you'll be laughing and crying all together. This drama was a great experience for. I have watched it five times. It teaches lessons about greed, secrets and lying. I recommend this drama to everyone.
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Don't pass this show up!!
Oh my goodness gracious, I can't stop smiling! This was an absolutely wonderful show, with so much going for it, I almost can't figure out how to express why I loved it. But here goes...Male lead - Lin Yu Shen (playing Lu Jin). Straight-laced, up-tight businessman. His entire life seems to be all about work. He tells someone that there is no room for emotions in work, but there wasn't room for emotions anywhere, until he met Gu Shengnan. He was able to convey so much emotion with just his facial expressions. One scene in the second to last episode almost broke my heart.
Female lead - Zhao Lu Si (playing Gu Shengnan). Perky, positive, self-taught chef. Her personality was effervescent. Her smile was so bright, she did this squeal/scream thing every so often that just made me laugh, and was anyone else obsessed with her hair? This character was someone you would want to be best friends with, knowing she would always cheer you up and cheer you on.
Lu Jin and Gu Shengnan as a couple - their chemistry was off-the-charts! For me, this was the crux and highlight of the show. There was an obvious age difference which, to me, made this even more cute. I felt like Lu Jin didn't know what life was about until he met Gu Shengnan. I have to give the writers kudos for such a marvelous script for these actors to work with. The dynamic between these two was special - they were both really good at the physical comedy, and the expressions on their faces? She was almost always full of joy, and there were so many times he had a look like he had no idea what to do with her, but was going along for the ride, and actually looking forward to it! Once they opened up to each other and expressed their feelings, each scene was heart-felt and romantic in so many ways.
The script wasn't overly drawn out, and I'm so thankful that the main couple got most of the screen time. It took me twice as long to watch this show, because I kept going back and replaying episodes. The scenarios for the most part seemed believable and I felt that the entire cast was good.
And can we talk about the food orgy?! Oh so many scenes of food preparation and presentation - the colors, the textures, oh my. Her food preparation played a big part in them getting together, and when she cooked for him in her apartment, each scene was funnier than the last.
I only rate a show 10 if it's rewatchable. I'd rate this one higher than 10 if I could. It's a slow (but not dragging), sweet show of discovery and love. If you are in the mood for lovely romance without too terribly much angst, I can't recommend this show highly enough.
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1This review may contain spoilers
c-trauma. emotional pain. too many tears.
Just gotta say something: first off, wHy tF was this so tRAgiC. Like I don't cry a lot in daily life and this shit got me bawling. Eps 1-35, some trauma, most of it is ok. If you want your sanity intact I will advise you to stop watching here. Eps 36-38? Pure emotional pain. It was all going well and them authors just had to insert some mentally brain damaged content to ruin the ending. Also, since when did elopement mean suicide??? WTF. And so it is implied that they both died tgt at the end. Help. Benjamin (Wang Tianchen) died. Jiang Lin (Wang Zhuochen) died. Rina (Florence Tan) died. Li Zan (Chen Zheyuan) died. Song Ran (Liang Jie) died. LIKE HELLO WHY IS HALF THE MAIN CAST SIX FEET UNDER? (I mean in Fangs of Fortune a bunch of them died but thats understandable since it's a wuxia.) But here?? The White Olive Tree? Pure c-trauma. Thats what this is. Not a cdrama, ctrauma. Like Li Zan actually needed psychological help in the end. Not even Song Ran could help him. They chose to die tgt instead. Like whY would you dO tHAt to them?? Went through so much together just to call it quits in the end and not live a good life tgt. I understand it's supposed to reflect real life circumstances, but this drama literally gave me mental disease too. With that aside, Chen Zheyuan is fantastic at conveying emotions. You can see the difference in him after eps 36. You can see the pain in his eyes, and also the love he has for Song Ran as well. They both of them (Chen Zheyuan and Liang Jie) were compatible and they both conveyed emotion really well. Too well in fact. I literally wept in the end. Advise you to clear out if you can't handle emotional pain.Was this review helpful to you?
A True Love is Love Series
I don't consider this series your typical BL series, rather a Love is Love series. Couple number one is a male-female couple, and for the first time in a very long time, they aren't watered down or given a stupid vibe. There are definitely several BL relationships, and contrary to many series with multiple couples, they all seem to have complete storyline with real relationship issues. This cast really impresses me off screen as much as they do on screen. They aren't fake with the fan service we see sooo often. The music for the series is fun and upbeat, and other than the fact that it's yet ANOTHER university setting, I'm very impressed by this series.Was this review helpful to you?
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The most disgusting and despicable main lead in the history of BL...
This is hard to rate and I'm sure I will not find the right words (even in my native language).What begins as cat and mouse game between the leads spirals out of control quite fast and is very hard to watch. It's hard because "the president" is really an awful human being for several reasons, but he does care for his love in a very twisted way also. His trauma to be left alone made him do unspeakable things in the name of love, so that his partner can't ever escape him.
But as also as in real life, most lies will come out and crash down on "the president". When he nearly lost everything including his love "the director" he aknowledges his faults, his errors and tries to redeem himself. Mr. director has his own baggage, an orphan who was taken in, an orphan who made himself as small as possible to not stand out because his early life served as lesson to survive. But his outward very calm demure is just a fassade and it breaks due to the actions of "the president".
In the end, they can't escape each other regardless of all the pain they endured, regardless of all the hurting things they did to each other.
Production quality is top notch, only the lip syncing could have been better, but besides that, there is nothing to complain about it. Both actors did an incredible job with such heavy roles. I can't recommand this series to anyone with mental heath issues at all, it's taxing to watch. They made it feel so real that it really hurts. This series is not fluffy to begin with and it's outside of the "norm" of most other BLs. It's not really toxic in the normal way, it's not cringe, it just feels awful most of the time. I would have liked if the finale episode would be 10 minutes or so longer to have some real nice moments, but we need to wait for the special episode. Overall a series which breaks the "law" of normal BL series, but still with a happy end.
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Unenjoyable Art
This is ART, no doubt about it. Stellar acting, exquisite editing & script and gorgeous, breathtaking shots. This Korean BL shouldn't be called just a "BL". This is "the BL" of the year for sure. This is the result when the directors & scriptwriters finally took its audience seriously. It's a near-perfect series. Beautiful & honest. But as it stands, I could NOT wait for it to be over.STORY & CHARACTERS: It's painful. The whole story. And no, I'm not talking about the heartwrenching scenes. I'm just saying that it drags. GOD, it drags. Painfully dull. I bet that the majority of the people here who rated this a perfect TEN for a rewatch would never watch this again. Because the story is all the same. It's a repetition of self-sabotage. The MC Yeong jumps from one guy to the other and sabotages the relationship himself. Honestly, it's one disappointment after the other. And here lies the pain. It's too realistic that it fails to be enjoyable anymore. I can't even root for the MC because he's a raging asshole. He' a hypercritical, pretentious coward who demands so much from his partners but in the end, he's the one who's going to run away. And I get that this is a drama and supposed to show an honest portrayal of relationships but it just feels dismal and almost cruel.
The ACTING is at least superb. I must say, the casting is so good. Everyone really stepped up to the plate. I just want to give Yeong's gay friends a shoutout too. They stole the spotlight for me. Their shenanigans are very entertaining and very real. Speaking of them, I should mention that whoever wrote the summary for this BL is tripping. What a misleading summary. Thought for sure the girl BFF, Mi Ae would be there for the MC throughout the whole series. Made it looked like she'll play a huge role too, but she was barely there. She was not even there for Yeong's mother's funeral. Why put her in the summary at all? The summary should've mentioned Yeong's very loyal and wonderful gay friends instead! Not the hetero girl who barely did anything for Yeong. She even outed him just to save her boring-ass relationship with the judgmental guy.
MUSIC: Could not remember any memorable bg music or soundtrack for this BL because I must have fell asleep halfway thru. (Not kidding).
REWATCH: Obviously 1. Would not touch this again. It's not a waste of time. At least I learned something. There were a LOT of memorable quotes and nuances. The scriptwriter really did a great job with MC's lines and POV but they're not just enough for me to care at this point. MC should just be single forever. He's perfect alone. He has great talent and have such great friends. I don't know why he has to feel like he needs to be in a relationship just to feel happy or feel complete.
Bottomline: Most definitely NOT a love story. It's ART & a critical success for sure, but its hopeless and bleak, and awfully unenjoyable. It's like a painting you'd admire for its details but will never keep.
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Godbless you all guys~!!!! Fighting!!!!
:)
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I won't go into the details, but this is basically a story about two people who seem uniquely matched, and in some ways ill-fated. There is also a general theme about empathy and opposites attracting, which is also echoed by a secondary couple. These are very common themes in Kdramaland, but usually, the story becomes more involved and engaging with each new episode. The opposite happened to me while watching this. Everything interesting happens early on and then too much of the time is filled with repetitive tropes and boring scenes full of annoying banter that goes nowhere and adds nothing to the overall story. Her uniqueness remains unexplained for the entirety of the show, and his issue is resolved so simply that it almost felt like cheating. Well, at least there's a great pairing to carry the show, right? Well, yes... and no.
The cast is lead by Seo Hyun Jin as Han Se Gye, who I am a big fan of, and she hasn't disappointed me yet. Instead of playing the quirky odd lead, here she plays a celebrated actress... but don't worry, her quirky charm still shines. She is matched by Lee Min Ki as Seo Do Jae, who usually takes some time to grow on me. He is always super low key and straight-faced in the roles I've seen him in, and this is no different. His robotic charm and her unpredictable energy do work well together for the most part, and they have good chemistry, especially in the earlier episodes. The main problem I had with them is that, once they didn't have a strong conflict to play off of, their scenes started to feel more forced and cringe-worthy. I feel like sometimes they tried too hard to be cute together, and it just turned out to be more annoying than adorable.
The supporting cast was a mixed bag of people I really liked and people I could barely stand. Lee Tae Ri and Moon Ji In both played their loyal assistant/bff roles well, and had good chemistry with their bosses, but one character who I was never really sold on was Ahn Jae Hyun as Ryu Eun Ho. I honestly don't get his appeal at all. Much like Lee Min Ki, I've always seen him play low key characters, but having two low energy males in one drama felt like a downer at times. My problem with Ahn Jae Hyun is that his character is meant to be super attractive and innocently charming, but to me, he just felt subtly arrogant and often boring. The dog's acting had more range than him. Most of his scenes, especially the drinking scenes with Han Se Gye & Woo Mi, made me want to skip all of his dialogue completely. The one thing that made me almost like his character was his chemistry with one of my favorite characters in the whole show, Lee Da Hee as Sa Ra. I loved Sa Ra's mean but reluctantly nice attitude, and matching her with a guy wanting to be a priest made their relationship fun to watch. There were times I looked forward to their scenes together as much as I did the main couple, but like the main couple, their story became very repetitive and dull towards the end.
Also, keep an eye out for lots of glaring cameos! It's almost like actor product placement lol!
Would I watch this again? Definitely not. There's just way too much filler to justify 16 long episodes worth of show, and every episode felt like an eternity to me! I even fell asleep while watching more than once. I would have to skip through most of the scenes just to rewatch the parts I like. Also, the last 2 episodes were so incredibly boring that just watching all the combined flashbacks would basically give you the entire drama in a nutshell. The ending didn't do much as far as closure or answers either, so even completing this drama until the end the first time felt like a waste of time.
Overall, I wish this drama was better since there was the potential for it to be good, but I think the lack of a strong storyline, the repetitive moments and flashback abuse, the way too easily resolved conflicts, and cheesy dialogue make it impossible for me to recommend this drama, even to die-hard romcom fans. There was a missed opportunity to create a really interesting love story, but instead, they decided to go with standard clichés and a super light-hearted and safe plot that won't make audiences too sad or upset. They even tried to imply a meaning for the main character's "identity crisis", but it came across to me as an afterthought and a stretch that failed to give this drama the substance it was going for.
But I guess, like beauty, this drama is in the eye of the beholder. Count me among those who are unimpressed with "The Beauty Inside".
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1This review may contain spoilers
1. GAY 2.Saint, wtf?!
1.Tf you mean "this is a bromance?"
It's giving BakuDeku level "friendship"
Some BLs I've seen don't have as much chemistry as this does.
Denial is a river in egypt, the two leads are gay and whipped for each other
2.
Bro...
No...
Saint, tf was episode 10?
You can't be stupid enough to make the same mistake again, please
Dont walk away again
3.
Knot, ily. Thank you for having a conscience. Idk what would've happened if you didn't call Shin. He is probably my second favorite after Shin.
4.
This is the first time I'm seeing Autism representation, the second time I've seen it was in Home School. I'm pretty sure it's because of the director
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It was a bit hard to rate this drama to be honest. I believe it has some flaws and it could have been better, but still, it managed to entertain me a lot which, if I have to be honest, I didn't expect.
The thing I loved the most about ''365: Repeat the Year'' is definitely the pace. This type of story is not easy to handle, yet this drama did it quite well. It just gets better with each episode, it makes you extremely curious about what will happen next. I don't think I've ever seen a drama with soooo many plot twists, I'm talking seriously right now. We have new twists in almost every episode. If you think you guessed right, you probably didn't. The writer always managed to surprise the viewers more or less. Even if you can predict something, you still can't get the full picture and the question you ask after each episode is always ''What the heck is going on?!''
I think as a mystery and time travel drama, it did quite well. However, the last episodes were quite... meh. You know, you keep searching for answers throughout the whole drama but when you finally get them, you kind of... don't care? The biggest plot twist was supposed to be the climax and the most shocking one but it really wasn't. Because if the other twists were very undpredictable, the biggest one was quite excpected. And after it, I kind of lost interest and just waited for the drama to end.
Some were left unexplained though. But I guess the drama was complicated enough so if the writer wanted to go even deeper, then it would have been waaaay too messy...who knows.
The acting was quite good. I loved Lee Joon Hyuk as Ji Hyung Joo, he is such an underrated actor and I he was excellent here. Nam Ji Hyun was decent as Shin Ga Hyun and honestly, one of the things I really, really loved in this drama is the fact that the female lead wasn't stupid or something.
The only song I actually remember from the drama is ''Into My Life'' by Say'Z. Such a beautiful song and it was perfect for the drama.
I wouldn't watch this again simply because there's no point. I mean, there won't be any excitement since I already know everything.
Overall, I would recommend this drama if you're looking for a good mystery that keeps you guessing. I wouldn't consider it a ''must watch'', but it's definitely a nice show. And if you decide to watch it, please, avoid spoilers at all cost!
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