Story: The story was cliche, but I live for cliches, especially mob-related so basically I adored it. Due to the length, certain very small scenes were a tad confusing if only because the cut into them seemed random, but they soon became clear. By the end of each chapter (which are usually ~15 min. segments), I had a very clear understanding of what was going on, so the confusion wasn’t long-lasting.
Acting/Cast: I’m not gonna lie, for a small studio film, I wasn’t expecting much re: the acting, but I was absolutely blown away. The actors are incredible and create such dynamic characters through facial expressions alone. They were an amazing cast that I would love to see in future dramas.
Music: So cute! The reoccurring song that played every time Gitae and Chisoo had a moment was sweet, gentle, and just downright adorable. It encapsulated that fuzzy feeling of butterflies in your stomach. The music for the action scenes were perfect for creating a high intensity environment, as well.
Rewatch Value: The only reason I am not immediately rewatching this movie is because I have to go to class in the morning. Needless to say, I will be watching this movie many more times in the future.
TL;DR: If you’re looking for a good LGBT movie with great acting, a fun plot, and a happy ending, then Long Time, No See is the choice for you. Please support this movie and the studio STRONGBERRY by buying the chapters ($12) so we can hopefully see more wonderful content like this in the future!
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This review may contain spoilers
I have absolutely no idea why there are so many negative reviews about this drama
Listen.I'd like to begin with the fact that yes, many people have different tastes and this might not suit some but it truly wasn't THAT bad as the majority comments say.
I, for one, enjoyed it IMMENSELY. In fact I came out, feeling sad that it ended.
Let's start with the storyline, shall we? There's not much spoilers in this little review but i tagged it just in case.
So it begins in a fantasy realm where our mc Rembrary is a very powerful healing figure. Then he transports to the actual human realm & switches places with a washed up idol Yeonwoo. Min gue did that drastic change in plot really well. You could FEEL Rembrary's confusion and anguish so really kudos to him.
I liked the corny parts too, the comedic bits didn't seem too overwhelming & out of place. It made me laugh out loud many times.
What I don't get is how people expected an aspect of realism when it's purely fictional, even a fantasy genre at that.
It started off good, the premise was promising and with only minor hits in between, it generally delivered well.
For one: i liked that the romance component was kept lowkey so we could focus on Rembrary AND the gigantic pile of tasks he had to accomplish to go back to his own realm. It also gave time and room for better development. Had the romance been early on, I really don't think I'd buy into it. Esp in the later episodes, where they have to MEAN alot to each other in order to take steps that they did to protect each other. Yall will know when you watch it. I think the transition from fan to friend to helper to lover was just fine.
So yes, a slow romance is better than a shallow one.
If I talk about the characters, I liked the mc, i could see him struggle and learn and care and bond. So yes. That made me root for him. Mingue really did the double roles well, i could distinguish between the two just by the look in their eyes.
FL, tho started off a bit shady (that saesang bit i got irked a little but they explain it later so idk but it gets better i promise), and i do feel like her backstory needed more weight perhaps? But she was actually smart and added to the resolution of conflicts rather than just being there as a place holder in the series. She's a capable woman who knows how to utilize her resources for the benefit of the team she manages. If not for her, Rembrary wouldn't have solved half the shit xD
The band members were enjoyable to watch. I wanted more depth to their stories but then again I realized it wasn't their story to tell and we had to focus on our mc. Still I would've liked to see more of them.
One complain i have is: NOT ONCE DID WE GET TO SEE WILD ANIMAL PERFORM IN THOSE GORGEOUS FITS PLS I WAS CRYING AND SCREAMING EVERYTIME THEY GOT INTERRUPTED JFKSKDKSKS
Anyways, the supporting characters were alright. Samjae was so cute and comedic, that man had nothing up there in the head except vibes and air.
Moving onto quite a few important topics that were talked about in the series which I haven't seen anyone acknowledge yet: the talks about mental health, the overall toxic environment that goes in the showbiz, how unpopular ppl are treated, how idols are reduced to nothing but dirt if they don't bring anything to the table, how hard it is to stay steaddfast when chances don't work in your favor, how taxing it is to keep hoping despite knowing it's going nowhere. Plus, there were a few discussions about human nature, selfishness, desires, greediness and goodness. The balance between the two.
So yeah. That was something to watch and think about.
I would say overall it wrapped everything up nicely. I did want the Evil One to actually do something, you know, evil but he was just a man desperate to be loved back.
The last few eps get slightlyyyy draggy what with the Redrin wind up and I thought her reasons didn't add up but like. meh. I didn't care enough about her. I just wanted my boy Rem to unite with the people he's come to care about.
The few plot twists that it DID have left me SHOOK. I did not see those coming at ALL. So kudos to the writer for getting some OOOOs and gasps out of me. That was something.
All in all, it was a good watch and i will definitely rewatch it. It's that light kdrama you search for after you're done watching something heavy. Shits and giggles, a bit plot, fun characters, cute dynamics, weird squads that no one saw coming AND REMBRARY HAVING GAY SCANDALS LMAOOO
I REQUEST you not to go in searching for something mind boggling or life changing (that I've seen ppl expect in the reviews here) bcs it's not. It's a simple plot, simple characters trying to navigate plot conflicts to the best of their capabilities. The good thing is it doesn't get boring. Atleast it didn't to me. It kept things dynamic and that made me not drop it and mind yall, im a very notorious dropper. If I don't like it, I drop it. So extra accolades to this series for that.
I would recommend everyone to atleast give the first 3 eps a chance. If it's up your alley, you'll have a blast and if it's not, well there's plenty of fish to pick from.
That's all I could write bcs i couldn't just watch it get absolutely shit on. It really isn't THAT bad. Kudos to the whole staff for pulling it off.
Hope this hot mess of a review helps someone discover their new fav drama. Happy watching everyone!!!
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Cha Seung Won and Gong Hyo Jin: They are both amazing actors. They are perfectly cast and it shows through every goofy moment and every scene that pulls at your heart.
This story is set in the entertainment world and probably sheds a glaring spotlight on the trappings and "traps" of fame. Each character is fame's satelite planet spinning in orbit around it's shiny tempting sun.
Dokko Jin is a man with a lot of hits under his belt. His image is stellar and it wins him the best CF's and shields him from getting laid low when a movie release isn't quite up to par. He can play the press like a finely tuned piano. He understands his world and he's comfortable there...on top. Everything is image...even love. Gu Ae Jung is a woman who had a taste of fleeting fame in her young 20's and knows exactly what it feels like when you are knocked from that pedestal. She has learned how to work her bad reputation to make a living. She knows what to do, how to act and dress and she's comfortable at the bottom so long as she can keep working. When they meet it throws their perspective worlds into chaos. It is a chaos neither of them are ready for.
Dokko Jin doesn't know what to do with the feelings he has outside of and in spite of, the image he has cultivated. He has lived so long in his fame bubble he is emotionally stunted. What he has come to expect is completely different than what the real world will hand him. We get to watch him open his eyes, watch his dumbfounded, drunken baby steps toward the light. ...And it's funny! It's clumsy and awkward. It's so completely tender and heart wrenching as well.
Gu Ae Jung doesn't know how to handle this mess of a man; who invades her life, pulls her into his bubble and goes after her with all the grace and finesse of a bull in a china shop. She has lived so long understanding that one word taken out of context can flay her and one mistaken step can shove her down to the bottom and cause pain. She knows she has to be careful in this world that drags her into a light which seems warm and friendly at first only to burn her when she dares to step to close. She knows better.
...and yet when the heart starts beating of its own accord and the petals strewn across the path lead to someone you can't stop loving, you have to be brave and make choices.
Gu Ae Jung is our everywoman in this story. She is the one we identify with and root for. She is the reluctant hero. Dokko Jin is our damsel in distress. The charm of this show is that it is so well written and entertaining you don't realize at first and when you do, you realize its genius!
The second leads and side characters are written smartly as well. They aren't just comic relief or one dimensional characters built as foils for the OTP. They have good reasons to be in our main character's lives. Best friends, brothers, agents and managers etc... They serve the narrative of the story rather than break us apart from it as if we need some sort of forced breather from the action or story filler. Smart Hong Sisters!
Yoon Pil Joo: Best second lead ever! I fell in love with him falling in love. Yoon Kye Sang is amazing. Time to go find every other thing he's ever acted in and watch it.
I found this show sublime. 'Crack me up' hilarious and 'Wrench my heart, why don't you?' emotional. Don't miss it. It is extraordinary.
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If I can say something bad about it, I'd have gone for a shorter version. 20 episodes are too many, since part of the story (expecially from episode 14) was just fillers.
I'd rather watch 10 very good episodes than 20 just for the sake of carrying it on.
The ending it's not that bad, but it's way too predictable: if you're not into open endings, just forget about this drama.
Onto the good stuff:
- Lee Seung Gi is just gold in this series, I cannot think of anybody else for the role of Son Oh Gong. Same goes for Cha Seung Won (Ma Wang) and Sung Hyuk (General Frost).
- Soundtrack is Bomb: "Let me out" is a hit, was stucked in my head for weeks, as well as "If You Were Me" and "When I Saw You".
- I loved the fact that supernatural elements, history and human nature are intertwined in the love story: it makes it really special.
- I don't particularly like Oh Yeon Seo, but i loved the first 5 episodes because of the tension between the two leads.
- Lee El (Secretary Ma) is one of the most underrated character, imho, but I loved her a lot.
I don't think I'd rewatch this, cause it's too painful now (i didn't enjoy the ending) and also because of the dragged out part (13-17), but It was definitely worth my time.
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This review may contain spoilers
Heart and Liming stole the whole series for me.
This series is a rough gem. The plotline is interesting, the cast is a top notch and the way everything has been portrayed from the storylines to the individual characters themselves absolutely worth watching. It's a realistic mess with a whole lot of feelings invested. None of the characters here are flawless. They have their own flaws and their own problems to deal with. At a first glance, it might look all dreamy and heart eyes but it's more than that. It's complicated and at the same time swoon worthy.Starting with Heart and Liming because for me they are the best part of this series. They have my heart. They are so heart warming and so healing. I am in love with their love and I love both of them so much. Their small small moments, their subtle touches, their sign language interactions and even their eye locks damnnn I live to see their scenes. In fact if comfort was a person then it would be them. They stole the whole series for me.
Moving on to Jim and Wen, hands down to the acting of Earth and Mix. Their chemistry is no joke mahn. Their story is a total opposite of Heart and Liming's story. It's filled with tension, raw desires and not to forget angst. Both of them are individuals that are in a way broken and have so much to show and say but they can't fully express it and I honestly feel them. (P.S: Earth doesn't look like a 40 year old in any way but okay I am gonna look over that.)
And about Alan. Damnn First nailed it. The complexity of the relationship between Alan and Wen. My god it's too much to handle. I can't even figure out anymore who's at fault and more so I can't see Alan cry. It breaks my heart when he is sad but then when he is being sarcastic, I can't help but roll my eyes. Gaipa too he is a cinnamon roll . He is such a sweetie. Also Leng and Praew, this two are so cute together. Not to forget Gaipa's mum, she is so supportive and so likable. And I didn't really like what they did with her in the end. Also this series did feel like highlights.. like you know it's just parts of something and there's more to see. I don't know I just felt like it could have been better, ended better. But overall I would still give it a 10. Credits to Heart and Liming.
Also, a shoutout to the ost "Tommorrow". It had me weeping when I heard it in episode 4. Ford sang it with so much innocence and emotions plus hats off to the editing team. The song blended so well with all those scenes and that doubled the impact the song had on me. The actual mv in Gmmtv records is good too.
Highly highly recommended!!
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I wasn't too sure about the story in the beginning, and I'll admit that throughout this drama there were moments were I thought it would go south. However, after I finished it, I realized I couldn't have been more wrong. The writers pulled off the storyline wonderfully. Even when the plot seemed a bit too complicated to execute well, the writers did a great job at it!
Now, I just want to talk a little about the acting in this drama. Honestly, this is one of the most well acted dramas I've seen so far. Park Bo Young and Jo Jung Suk have AMAZING chemistry. I would find myself playing certain scenes over and over again, just because these two are so great together! The way their relationship grows from beginning to end is so sweet. I also want to say that these two share the most real and believable kisses I've ever seen in a drama. Seriously! Whenever they were on screen, I would always look forward to how they would interact with each other. Part of that is because this drama has really down to earth acting. You can tell that all the actors have fun with their roles (especially the kitchen crew), and they bring that excitement to the screen. Not only are the interactions between Na Bong and Chef very real and believable, but the interactions between all the other characters as well. I loved watching the kitchen crew going through their day, bickering and cracking jokes at one another. Their acting was so real that I would forget what they were saying was actually scripted. It was fun watching them, especially during the moments where you could tell they were about to break out of character and burst out laughing! I especially loved Sous Chef (Kang Ki Young). Some people might find him a little annoying, but honestly he made me laugh numerous times throughout the drama!
Im Joo Hwan is also amazing in this drama. His portrayal of Officer Choi was spot on, and I was really moved by his character towards the end. The same goes for Kim Seul Gi (Soon Ae). There were times where I was a little confused and annoyed about where her character was going plot wise, but toward the end I'd come to understand and appreciate what she did for the story.
This drama does have some minor flaws, like pacing issues in the last few episodes and sort of a rushed ending. Despite all that, this drama is still a perfect 10/10 for me. I don't normally do reviews, so the fact that I came here to write this immediately after I finished it is saying something. If you're looking for a great romance/comedy/mystery drama with amazing acting and lovable characters, then give Oh My Ghost a chance!
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Don't watch this if you cannot accept human and robot relationships
This is the drama that made me look forward to Mondays. I would rush home from work every night just to watch the live stream in raw, even though I didn’t understand Korean. A lot of people gave this drama negative comments and a low score because they couldn't accept the FL and a robot falling in love. Well, hate to burst your bubble but, this has always meant to be an interspecies romance and they never masked that fact or tricked you into believing it wasn't. If someone thinks this kind of thing is not okay, then the drama is simply not for them. It doesn't mean there is a problem with the quality of the drama itself.The Message
The title “Are You Human Too?” is a mockery to humans that have lost their good in humanity. A pure robot, Nam Shin III, that always thinks for others first is meant to draw a contrast to bring out the dark side of human nature, and have us reflect on what it means to be human. When I first heard about this premise, I was worried whether they would be able to deliver this message well. But this drama never failed to meet my expectations. At first glance, it may be unfair to compare a perfect robot to flawed humans, but the morale of the story is not to conclude that robots are better, it’s that humans, although flawed, should strive to become better and sometimes to humbly learn from a robot who has outgrown its owner in kindness and justice. In the story we can see characters who have been blinded by their dark sides and have forgotten about humanity. This humanity, hopefully, will be restored through Nam Shin III, who teaches these people an important life lesson about being selfless.
The Plot
This is a sci-fi drama, but it’s not the type that keeps you at the edge of your seat from the very first episode. Rather, it focuses on character relationships and how each affects the other. That being said, there are more than enough mind-blowing plot twists and shocking cliffhangers to keep us engaged. The ending of each episode had my mouth gaping in awe, as I wait another one more week to watch its resolution. Unfortunately, the plot became a bit draggy in the middle half, and there were certain episodes where nothing much happened. There was definitely some potential that they could have explored about AI and the sci-fi genre, but they didn't. The drama was still largely entertaining and the first of its kind, so there's that.
The Characters
First, I would like to give a thumbs up to Seo Kang Joon’s stellar performance acting as a robot and a human being. This is his first time starring dual roles, one of them being non-human, but he was able to differentiate the personalities really well. You could tell which was which just by looking at their subtle facial expressions.
In this drama, the villains, or more accurately the “flawed humans”, are the ones that drive the plot. Despite being a pain in the neck, these characters are inevitably 3-dimensional, each having their own backstory and motives that drive their actions. You may wish for their downfall in one moment, and pity them in another. All in all, they are realistic characters that you would understand where they are coming from no matter if you agree with them or not. It goes to show that humans have both bright and dark sides, and villains can also be victims at the same time.
The Chemistry
I really appreciate how beautiful the OTP’s relationship is. Despite not having a lot of screen time or skinship together, they have great on-screen chemistry and their bonding is amazing. Their relationship taught me about what it means to love someone, and that love isn’t a feeling or emotion, it’s a value that you live for. Nam Shin III can comprehend emotions but he can never feel them, but it doesn’t stop him from experiencing love and becoming truly like a human through breaking the boundaries of robotics.
The OST
I have most of the songs on replay, and every time a song was released I’d download it within 3 hours and listen to it. All the songs were good and fit the scenes very well. One of the songs worth noting is The Longing Dance, which really enhances the cinematic atmosphere of the drama.
This drama is recommended to people who like deep messages about humanity, love, 3-dimensional villains and a cute puppybot companion. If you don’t mind interspecies romance between a robot and a human, definitely give it a try!
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THIS IS SO UNDERRATED
❤️ok❤️ so from what I see not many ppl watch this drama and the ratings are not great... besides dramatist, on douban, it has less than 10000 ratings (which is quite little for there), and it only has like 6.3 rating. I mean its not horrible but I dont understand cuz I think its not worse than those 7+ or8+ dramas.lmao ok so my point is at first I was not gonna watch it like there are no reviews of it and it has bad view count and bad ratings, but one day I was bored and saw a mv of it...it was H O T. im not like horny or anything but I was bored so I thought id check it out for fun.
HOWEVER, from like 5 minutes in, I was captivated, and I never skipped a second of it. ig that is to be expected from a 16 episode 30 min each drama, but that doesn't mean much I can sit through much more and be happy with a drama. (shoutout: STORY OF MINGLAN IS AMAZING)
either way, it was at a very good pacing; I didn't feel as if scenes were cut or stretched.
even though im not a big fan of these fighting and violence modern dramas, I really liked this one. The dangerous background stories they shared together had me crying all night, and I felt as if I was there friends cuz I was praying as I watched for a happy ending.
as for the characters, BOTH ARE BADASS AND I LOVE IT. ml is so smart and fl is not the typical naive dumb dependent fl. they have misunderstandings but it gets cleared up real fast. even if it didn't, it is actually understandable for me so its not exactly annoying. but DONT WORRY ABT THAT cuz they are well most of the time.
im also particularly in love with second lead couple. tbh the 2nd fl was harassing 2nd ml in the beginning and I won't deny that. it was kinda wrong, but hey im a part of the audience. their ending scenes had me crying of happiness and sadness and everything and I knew was that they loved each other.
also xing Xing (their late "master"'s child under the care of 2nd couple) was adorable. I found her annoying at first but she's a child and later she was so mature and caring and understanding and adorable and yeah
music was okay, ive heard better but the story made up for it.
acting was great too. alike, ive seen better but it was more than enough to make the drama amazing. ps. ❗️kissing scenes were superior no dead fish
❗️ALL IN ALL❗️(im back in elementary lmao), it was a thrilling, quick ride for me and I loved it. some characters had their fault but i come to feel for them very soon. In the end, I love everyone (not the villains though I dont hate them either) ((they were pitiful and for some reason, I never found them particularly annoying)) (((they didn't last long anyways))) WOAH WHAT IS WITH ALL THOSE PARRENTHATHESIS apparently I cant spell either. ;-;
well this was definitely not a waste of time and I think it should be rated better and have a bigger audience. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
u prob cant read anything I wrote but ITS AMAZING, and I added emojis 😎 cuz I think what I wrote is like PeRiOd and needed to be emphasized
sorry im werid, byebye
edit: I FORGOT : ❤️HAPPY ENDING❤️ GUYS SO DONT WORRY again I had to emphasize
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How To Get 4 Men to Fall in Love with You at the Same Time
To enjoy watching this drama, viewers are advised to watch it with a sense of humor, and not with your normal logic, for this drama that seems dead serious (no “comedy” tag), may seem to have loaded with bizarre and unfathomable logic. Many actions and scenes are over exaggerated with overacting which are also embellished with playful music. The pace is rather fast with many events taking place in each scene, only temporarily slowing down for the romance. If viewers can endure the first couple of the episodes which may seem farfetched, the later part is rather addictive. Therefore, sit back and let the story take you away, and enjoy.This drama is said to have adapted from a web novel of the same name. However, according to some readers, the main female character has been drastically changed “to make her seem more relatable for audience consumption”. In the novel, her personality is said to be, to quote a reader, “the most endearing element of the storyline. She's casual in demeanor but absolutely savage in her plotting. They did such a disservice to the female lead.” Even with the altered toned down version, I still love the female lead character as I find her strong, determined, intelligent and devoted.
Princess Jiuling (Peng Xiaoran) is an inspiring character. Despite the horrendous change of her life including the loss of her family, her identity and her look, she is determined to stay low, strengthen her power, and make a comeback for revenge. Her patience and her endurance to injustices, at the same time, honing her skills and waiting for the right moment, are qualities that are commendable. She exudes confidence and composure even in the most trying conditions, and her dignified demeanor captures all hearts.
Peng Xiaoran who plays the Princess Jiuling role, is an amazing actor. I got to know her in Goodbye My Princess when she was relatively unknown and was chosen to play that role because of a clash in schedule for the original actor who was a lot more popular. I was so glad they made the switch then as it brought us another talented actor who would have been buried if not for the opportunity. Here, as in Goodbye My Princess, Peng Xiaoran is so natural, graceful and authentic, successfully bringing her character to live.
Despite Jiuling is surrounded by numerous men who are deeply in love with her, she has only one true love, Zhu Zan (Jin Han) whom she had spent a great deal of time with when they were growing up. Zhu Zan is now a general guarding the frontier with his father since their separation. Free spirited and unrestrained, Zhu Zan is humorous and chivalrous. He continues to care for orphans, finding shelter and providing food for the displaced people due to wars and disasters. It is these qualities that Jiuling falls in love with him again as they align with her own values. Zhu Zan is infatuated with Jiuling, and regardless of how the world sees him and what trouble he may get into, he goes all the way out for Jiuling and helps her overcome her obstacles.
Jin Han’s portrayal of Zhu Zan is adorable, making the character very lovable like a big cuddly teddy bear. Unfortunately, many viewers criticize the choice and complain that Jin Han is not good looking enough. Perhaps these viewers hope to see a more effeminate actor as this seem to be the trend in today’s historical dramas, and Jin Han’s physical appearance is the total opposite to that. Some viewers also complain that they cannot place Jin Han’s face as a protagonist as the actor has previously played some antagonistic roles in other dramas. Whatever the criticisms are, I feel we all need to give these young actors opportunities to prove themselves, and Jin Han has proved that he is a versatile actor.
My Verdict
Sure there are flaws everywhere like in most Chinese dramas. But if we look pass these flaws and be less critical, this is a rather decent drama. A lot of the story only happens in conversations instead of in scenes, hence non-native speakers may want to get proper English subs to ensure accurate conveyance of the messages. The development of the main characters is quite well done with very well acting by the whole cast including the supporting cast. The storyline may be serious but this is a very humorous drama.
Overall, this is a drama deserved to be watched. I have enjoyed it very much.
Recommended! Bravo!
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1
1BEST 2024 costume drama!
So Satisfying all the way through!!!!Li Yun Rui & Meng Zi Yi Underrated for YEARS finally gets their big break!
Li Yun Rui - Always the supporting role. He was ML3 in Love like Galaxy. Supporting characters in many.
Meng Zi Yi - I always thought she looks goddess like and can act well enough for idol dramas, yet she never gets roles like Dilraba.
The pairing imo is fantastic. Both tall and beautiful, chemistry brewing.
The plot is NOTHING special as it's about 2nd chance in life trying to change fate. But unlike the ###s drams before, this is done right with a powerful 1st episode. On a cold snowy night, enters ML w/ silver hair saving the FL from a crashing carriage. Their eyes meet and the scene gives off that that same "A Familiar Stranger" vibe. (Same Director). Ep ends with them falling through the shattered glass into the abyss. Then time freezes as she slowly floats back up passing ML signals the reverse in timeline. The visuals are incredible, the best 1st episode ever! Can other directors just learn from this one?
The next 5 episodes ML/FL hardly have any interactions as they are building up the storyline. Ep 8 on the chemistry is on fire! Of course, if you are impatient and just want the leads face smooching then stick with your short dramas. This is a beautifully paced slow burn romance properly done (IMO) and I am loving every episode w/o skipping any scenes.
The not so perfect:
1. Blossom .... Y Y Y Y Blossom? Why can't they translate the title closer to the Chinese title?
2. ML, bad (General's) hair. umm his face is long, and you just up dewed another 3" of extra dry fake hair
3. Typical one-dimensional bad stepmother, bad uncle, bad dad, supporting actors but MOST of them had a glimpse of turnaround.
4. Insta fall from ep 1. ML/FL needed a bit more scenes ep 2-6.
For the first time 34 episodes felt so short.
All Top notch:
1. Director
2. Story telling
3. Visuals, creativity - Best 1st episode ever!
4. CPs! "Grape staring at raisin" FL big eyes staring at small eyes
5. Perfecting Casting - big or small roles
6. Characters. There are several characters switch between good and evil & the actors pulled it off!
7. Satisfying Ending. No botched up ending with quick killing of the entire cast. No ending ending. No Rushed Ending.
8. Script - Beautiful (level up Chinese.... Yeah my 3rd grade Chinese had issues understanding but I know it's well written
9. Music - elevating scenes
Emotional Hits:
1. Every ML FL scenes
2. Emperor, ML scene Ep 14
3. Yuan Tong realizing he really loves FL
4. Parting scene Wu Shan, FL scene
5. Ep 1 Death of emperor scene
6. Dou Ming .... tragic ending scene
LOVE LOVE LOVE I shall rewatch whenever there's a C-drama dry spell. (This year was a long dry spell)
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No words can describe the feelings “The Red Sleeve” gave me
But I will try.
“The Red Sleeve” felt like hymn of love,
but also, like condemnation of love.
"The red sleeve" is the perfect rendering of the dual nature of love, of its bittersweet reality.
At moments it made me laugh my heart out, at moments it made me cry. Sometimes I was over the moon, filled with joy or my blood was boiling to the point I wanted to punch the screen. I was amazed, I was entertained, I was disappointed. “The Red Sleeve” was a pleasant and thrilling ride that offered me all kinds of feelings, positive or negative ones.
The Story
“The Red Sleeve” is a historical romance drama of 17 episodes. The story is based on the novel “The Red Sleeve Cuff” by Kim Mi Kang and revolves around the relationship of court maid Sung Deok Im and Crown Prince Yi San.
The story is also based on historical events and figures. As I’m not an expert in Korean history and I haven’t read the novel, I can’t analyze this any further. For anyone who wants to know more I will comment on my review- comment the link of the MDL discussion thread “Drama vs Novel (vs History)”. This contains spoilers so I’d advise you to read after you’ve watched the drama.
Even though the story is romance-centered, it deals also with other things that make the drama quite interesting, like the life of the court maids, the fairies of the palace. From their point of view, the story manages to show how the institutions of the palace work but also, the sad and brutal reality of it : the intrigue, the political corruption, the inequality, the devaluation of human life.
In addition to the above, another benefit “The Red Sleeve” has, is that although it starts with a very common romance trope, generally it doesn’t contain a lot of cliché romance scenes. Thus, I believe that even if you’re not into romance dramas, you can give “The Red Sleeve” a chance and you may be satisfied with the outcome. I’m not really a fan of historical or romance-centered dramas and yet, “The Red Sleeve” kept my attention till the very end.
The Pace
The pace of the drama is neither fast or slow, it’s something in between and varies from episode to episode. Thus, I think the pace is just right and manages to keep you unbored. I also noticed that after an intense, thrilling and serious episode, the next episode is mild and relaxing, like it is a comic relief. That creates balance in the drama’s tension and makes it pleasant to watch.
It has to be mentioned that some comic reliefs and serious scenes also exist inside the intense and the mild episodes respectively. These changes between funny and serious are well structured and not abrupt so they don’t destroy the drama’s serious and melodramatic tone. Not everyone though likes this kind of alteration, even if it is well made, so if you belong to this category, you may be a little disturb from time to time.
The Storytelling
I don’t know if it is because the drama is based on a novel, or the screenwriter did a very good job or because of something else, but the storytelling is beautiful.
There is harmony between every situation and relationship, everything is perfectly tied together creating perfect coherence. The story slowly and unsuspectingly escalates, comes and hits you unexpectedly. Watching the last episodes and realizing how much has happened and how every character and situation has changed was a shocking experience.
The greatest thing about the storytelling is how poetic it is. This drama has one of the best scripts I have ever come across. The dialogues and monologues are so impactful and powerful,full of beautiful words. The feelings and thoughts of the characters are very well imprinted that can touch the audience and make them feel the same as the characters. Reading the subtitles of this drama was so appealing that even someone who hates reading subtitles would enjoy it.
The Characters
The characters are very well written. There isn’t any dull character, almost everyone has a multidimensional personality and depth. Everyone has their own purpose, acts accordingly and ultimately, it is their actions that determine their fate. Even if some characters had bad intentions, you can’t define them as villains because they weren’t completely bad people, they were just humans.
I like many of the characters but I especially like Sung Deok Im, the definition of the “strong female lead”. Sung Deok Im is smart and she has her way with words. She used her charms to survive in a very tough environment. She is confident, fearless, independent and she always puts her logic over her feelings. Her acts are very mature and thoughtful so she is a person to rely on.
The Acting
I was impressed by the acting and I was completely satisfied with the result the whole cast provided. All the actors did a great job.
The two main leads, Lee Se Young and Lee Jun Ho had perfect chemistry and their performances were breathtaking. I have seen many dramas of Lee Se Young and she has never disappointed me, she is always on point, as she was in this drama too. It was the first time I saw Lee Jun Ho and his acting surprised me. In the future, I will see more of his dramas.
My favorite actor was Lee Deok Hwa (King Yeongjo), he was remarkable. I was captivated by his solid performance. His reactions was so natural that made me predict something that happened later.
The Production
What I liked about “The Red Sleeve” the most, was its production. “The Red Sleeve” is technically perfect from all the aspects. Everything is so well made; the production is indeed very meticulous. The directing contains beautiful cinematography with the artistic shots of nature, vivid colors that made the drama visually stunning. This directing combined with the soundtrack, created thrilling and romantic scenes that made my body shivering and sad scenes that made me want to cry a river.
Conclusion
I believe that “The Red Sleeve” is one of the dramas that you know from the first episodes if you like it or not. The technical aspects of the drama are very decent; everything else depends on personal taste. For me, “The Red Sleeve” was pure art from all perspectives. This drama has a lot of beautiful moments that stole my heart and I will always remember. It was indeed a delightful journey.
I hope if you watch it, you will experience the same feelings as I did.
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This review may contain spoilers
I love the way this ended! ( I won't give spoilers.) I started watching this one afternoon and found myself going to bed at 7:45 am the next morning having completed it. It is definately a "I'll just watch one more episode" kind of drama. I was unfamiliar with all of the actors, but thery were great. The plot was definately a lot spicier than K-Drama. I would highly recommend this for a rainey Saturday or an all night marathon!! Was this review helpful to you?
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Compelling, grounded in substance, and gratifyingly true-to-life. With a wonderful basic premise
"Missing: The Other Side" seems a bit like a KDrama with a magic hat. The story has the similar effect as the theme of the production: it sort of cavorts in a veiled intermediate world. It could simply be missed out. If you are looking for something in the field of fantasy, the KDrama does not impose itself. It's not fantastic or psychic enough. If you're looking for a thriller, you're more likely to scroll past it. It's not a psychological thriller. It's also not a classic crime thriller. So it seems ... And yet. "Missing: The Other Side" is extremely well done and definitely recommendable. I wouldn´t call the KDrama fantasy or mystery, but rather solid crime genre, in which actually time and space become relative... If only I had known earlier...The KDrama is like an insider tip - although it´s success is not a secret. On the contrary. A second season will come out soon. The story is compelling, grounded in substance, and gratifyingly true-to-life beyond the basic premise. "Missing: The Other Side" doesn't entice viewers with a cast full of dazzling names, but with a fascinating, extraordinary production. A class of its own. The concept thrives on straight simplicity.
There is the radiant simplicity of the brilliant underlying idea: a tribute to the missing. There are actually too many missing people in South Korea - children and women in particular. In more than half of the cases, the missing person is at some point found dead - most of the time several years later. The idea of the KDrama particularly honors those victims by creating a kind of dignified in-between-world for the time during investigation, how long it may ever take. Only then, as their corpse is found, they will part in peace. In the meantime, from the minute the missing person dies until the moment the corpse is found, those souls linger in a beautiful and (mainly) peaceful village among other fellows with similar history. There is a certain charm to respectfully giving such unsolved cases some faces, individual stories, soul, hope & heart - some friendly, reminding space. Even though many missing people´s cases get closed and quite a few may remain unsolved, the KDrama respectfully opens a door to connecting to them.
Granted, the living and the dead share the stage equally. Yet there are no mouldering, half-decayed or slightly moldy ghosts buzzing around. If you like, the idea of "Hotel del Luna" is varied in a less exalted ambience, a little more down-to-earth and less spooky. However, if "Hotel del Luna" was cast with dazzling superstars, "Missing: The Other Side" consistently maintains the simplicity of its concept. Very few KFans will end up following in the footsteps of their 'stars' in this KDrama, they aren't so well known enough outside of South Korea for that. Nevertheless, they all do a splendid job.
Finding the corpses of the missing however requires the living and their down-to-earth investigative work. The knowledge of the deceased can be used. Eventually, there is a catch: it requires living people who happen to be able to SEE and communicate with the dead. The worlds 'here' and 'in between' do overlap in the village of Duon, but only for those with the special gift of perception. A loose team sort of gets thrown together by fate and begins to work more or less jointly to solve some cases that are apparently related in some way. Everyone has to carry some personal luggage, in which missing people play a significant role. One is a crook, his colleague is a hacker, another protagonist works as a detective, another is a widower and father who, even after many years, has not given up the search for his missing daughter.
If you can/want to accept the basic premise of that in-between world, then "Missing: The Other Side" offers an all-round gripping crime thriller. Without any ribbons, but with warm heart. Not highly polished, but atmospheric and impressive. The protagonists are quite three dimensional - no superheroes, but rather ordinary, authentic, tangible. It could be anyone. Lastly, this story would especially happen in South Korea, because in this KDrama the ever so characteristic orphanages and Jaebeol once again got leading roles within the dramaturgical structure.
In case you are not sure, if you should watch, here my advice: Don´t miss "Missing: The Other Side".
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