Not Good Enough
Korean Drama '' Queen of Divorce '' is a dramatic law comedy.The drama, first of all, focuses mostly on the female lead's story and her efforts to redeem herself and bring those who hurt her to justice. Therefore, there weren't a lot, or even any, legal cases other than the main one, which was a letdown, as the main lead was supposed to be the queen of divorce, even though she couldn't be a lawyer.
The romance, in addition, felt forced and it was boring, especially since they were trying to base it on a past that the viewer had never watched.
Finally, the performances were enjoyable.
So, overall, three out of ten.
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Yoon Eun Hye is one of my favorite Korean actresses. This drama starting out well. I will give any drama she is in a try. Moved at a great pace. It did not have that same K-romance theme love triangle and their love grew pretty quick. With that said, this drama should have been 8 episodes instead of 15. Most of it was bad filler with no meaning and unanswered questions about some of the other characters. The acting was great in my opinion and the story was good but the execution falls short. There were way too many flashbacks in this drama. Was this review helpful to you?
A wrinkle in time.
This is a surprisingly enjoyable short love story with a novel premise. He Zhengyu, a hot shot lawyer experiences a series of setbacks that lands him in a modest apartment. Every night, he is "haunted" by rookie reporter Chen Jialan, who occupied the apartment four months ago. A wrinkle in time brings them together each night at 10:06pm for 46 minutes. During this time they must solve a few cases that they were involved in professionally that may have set them on the road to perdition.The initial encounters between Zhengyu and Jialan are hilarious and intriguing as they both scare the hell out of each other. They had me rooting for them from the get go. But as their relationship progresses, I find Jialan remains too sweet, childish and cutesy. I expect to see their chemistry take on a more mature and adult tone later on but this doesn't quite happen. Nonetheless, I stayed invested in their story throughout and kept going even though the whole Jirong saga bored me to tears. I have not seen such bland and monotonous acting in a long time. It is almost criminal to pair up such an insipid actress with such a hot actor as Dai Gaozheng. The cast overall is not strong and it is Yang Xuwen's convincing and charismatic portrayal of Zhengyu and how he is changed by this wrinkle in time that elevates the main relationship and saves the entire drama.
The biggest plot hole in this story is He Zhengyu's lack of curiosity about who Chen Jialan was and why she vacated the apartment he moved into. You would think his first instinct would be to find out everything about her and to try to track her down. But no, he waits till very late in the game to do this. The cases are only mildly interesting and the villains are quite obvious. While the drama does a good job transitioning between the past and the present, the main characters traverse back and forth too often and too inconsequentially. The plot does become slightly convoluted towards the end, with too many twists. Despite some obvious flaws and plot holes, there are enough fresh and engaging moments that make this an entertaining watch. This is a 7.5/10.0 that will nicely tide over a dry spell.
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The sheer amount of heart that saturates every moment of this show is what sets it apart from other dramas.
The latest entry in the newly minted "healing drama" genre (and arguably, the best yet), Thirty But Seventeen details the intertwined lives of Woo Seo Ri and Gong Woo Jin, allowing us to slowly unfold both their shared traumas and the bond that they build to overcome said traumas, together.
The story is driven by emotional and character progression beats, rather than plot points and adrenaline. The world that they've created around the story is a magical one, something like a modern day fairytale. Maybe a retelling of Sleeping Beauty?
The acting is wonderful. Shin Hye Sun is perfect as Seo Ri, giving the character equal parts vulnerability and innocent whimsy. And Yang Se Jong stole the show, honestly. Every time he cried, my heart just shattered. His portrayal of the traumatized Woo Jin made me say, "This man may not have been in a coma, but he's been trapped in stasis since the age of 17 too" long, long before the show drove that point home in the dialogue itself.
And the supporting cast were what really made the show shine. The little found family who all grow together and support each other, full to the brim with kindness and the best intentions... throw in a sweet little applehead chihuahua named Paeng, and we the audience really never stood a chance, did we? How do you NOT fall in love with them?
I've stopped including the music in most of the reviews that I write, because honestly most shows don't use their soundtracks to their full advantage. But in this case, the music was spot on... the classical songs that they chose to incorporate into the storyline directly fit perfectly, and the OST while having a limited number of tracks managed to include some really beautiful, heartfelt songs that worked gorgeously in the scenes that they chose.
Actually, now that I'm sort of on the subject, I really want to give a shoutout to whoever did the editing for this show in general. Multiple times, I couldn't help but notice just how stunning the editing was. Particularly in the scenes where Woo Jin or Seo Ri are having flashbacks... the way that the past and present seemed to melt together, combined with the sound editing choices... it was really incredible. I would rewatch this show solely for those scenes, to be honest.
Anyway, this review has gotten a little bit away from me, and I think I'm probably just rambling now. But suffice it to say, this drama is one of the few that I wholeheartedly and without any reservations love, and I hope that as many people as possible will watch and be touched by this story and these characters too.
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"I will go outside to see the world. I will fail and I will suffer!...
...I want to see what I can achieve in the end!"There is so much to love about this drama. There is also surprisingly a lot I did not, and it only hit me when I got closer to the end.
It’s safe to say this is a perfect drama for all found family trope fans. Watching Li Jian Jian, Ling Xiao and He Zi Qiu support each other under the caring watch of Li Hai Chao was beautifully heartwarming. What amazed me the most was the fact these relationships were not idealized. All characters struggled with many internal and external issues that were well developed and presented. Themes like being scared of being abandoned, or being forced to abandon people you love. The constant feeling you need to act perfect, be perfect, never complain to be worth the support you are getting. That uncomfortable feeling when people who were close to you in the past feel distant in the present. All of these affected their interactions with each other and made the bond that much more meaningful and strong.
Li Jian Jian was such a force of positivity. I know some people disliked her as a teenager, but personally I loved her in all 3 stages of her life. She was adorable as a kid, fun and expressive as a teenager and mature, but still exciting to watch as an adult. She was the person that could be called “home” by many characters and the bond that kept them together.
Ling Xiao was the one who kept his scars hidden the most and it was painful to watch. At times it truly felt as if he gave up on himself - whatever happens, as long as people he cares about are safe. The most passive in response to trauma, the one that kept it all inside. Finding his salvation in Li Jian Jian.
He Zi Qiu who smiled, even if he was crying inside. Fighting his battles alone, not wanting anyone to help, not wanting anyone to pity him. Trying his best not to be a burden, wanting to protect people around him. So caring, so good, so well-natured with such a bright and radiant personality. He became an older brother to all the characters.
And you know what’s the best? The main characters were not the only ones with depth. All the supporting characters had well-defined personalities and individual struggles that were separate from their connections to the main cast. Ming Yue who was limited by her low self-esteem and overbearing mother, Tang Can who felt like she was stuck in place when everyone around her lived their best and successful lives. I loved how Zhuang Bei did not disappear after the high school timeline, how he truly became part of the friend group. Or how Qin Mei Ying was not just a plot device and accessory to Chen Ting.
And then we have the best father in all drama history: Li Hai Chao. He could be used as a gold standard on how to well-integrate adopted children into an already existing family. He made sure everyone felt welcomed without neglecting his own daughter. Being patient was his biggest strength that made all the kids trust him. Putting happiness and well-being over, often meaningless achievements. Purest form of support we all dream about.
Sadly, that’s the end of the short list of the good parents this drama presented, and one of the main issues I had with the show.
Yes, I did like Ling He Ping, but it’s also true that he was a rather neglectful father. Working a lot, not being at home knowing how bad the situation is. Later putting his son in the care of a neighbor.
Not going into details, at some point I found the level and the number of dysfunctional families in this show exhausting and unrealistic. All families have their problems, that’s true. The thing is, Go Ahead does not present your typical issues, it’s all on the level of: you need therapy, these are not disagreement, this is an abuse.
Then we have the issue of vilification of mothers. This one abandoned her child, another did the same. This one is overcontrolling to the point of abuse, this one uses her child to get money. There was literally only one mother without any major issues, who did not mentally torture her child, and she was a mom of the side character. It’s not like the dads were perfect, but their faults were never highlighted as much.
At the same time, the drama gives a rather painful and unhealthy message - no matter what, you cannot give up on your mother, you have to try and make the relationship work, no matter the abuse and how much you are suffering, because it is your mother. Abandoning your child is “a mistake”, but not helping your mother when she struggles is the biggest sin one can commit. Some scenes just made me feel uncomfortable. I know there are some cultural differences and China puts a lot of importance on family bonds and family relations, but there is a big difference between doing your best to fix a relationship with your parents and just accepting abuse for years.
I also feel like the drama unintentionally stigmatizes mental health issues. In some aspects they did a good job, showing how serious are the consequences of emotional abuse, trauma, neglect, stress, pressure etc. The fact it’s not just - I feel sad. How it can affect your daily life, how it will only get worse if you won’t seek help and try to change the situation you are in. On the other hand though, they did blame a lot of toxic and awful behavior on psychological issues. The sad truth is - some people are simply dicks, and they will act like one whenever they struggle with something or not. Some people are just egocentric and selfish and them getting help won’t change that.
My “favorite” part about mental health presentation? Two characters talking about how you cannot get better in just a few months when you struggle with serious psychological issues, while also showing how serious issues were solved in a short period of time without getting into any details on how. All I could do was laugh.
Going back to the good - PERFORMANCES! Personally I believe Zhang Xin Chen and Tu Song Yan stole the show. The strong and beautiful father-son bond these two were able to present was one of the best aspects of the drama. They also had the best overall chemistry with all their co-stars. Whatever these two characters were going through always hit harder and made me feel more compared to when I watched the other characters.
While I enjoyed Tan Song Yun and Song Wei Long for their individual roles, somehow I did not click with their scenes together as their characters became adults. I feel like they had more chemistry playing teenagers. When the three siblings were together, when they had their separate scenes with Zhang Xin Chen, the on-screen chemistry was great, but when it was just the two of them… something was missing.
I don’t really have that much to say about the production value. It was great, but great is kind of a standard now in the industry.
On the other hand, there is a lot to compliment about the soundtrack! There is not one bad song, not one mismatched track - every tune is in perfect harmony with their corresponding scenes. Every song enhances the moments I witnessed, amplifying the emotions.
Overall, I binge watched the whole drama in 6 days, I think that is a greatest proof Go Ahead is an amazing show. It makes you like and care for the characters from episode one, and with each minute you get more and more attached to them and their journey.
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This review may contain spoilers
For the haters
To be honest the drama was really really good ,I really liked it . The acting was great I mean I am Joongdunk fan now .Dunk acting was really good becuz itvis hard to change your personality and appearance abd how you talk, walk everything and Dunk has done that .Some people say it is boringbut I do NOT think that . I rewatch 5 times .
GREAT DRAMA !!!!!:))))
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Unfortunately, I felt that as Miri's tower of lies began to falter, so did the intensity of the show. (Perhaps the story was water-downed by Miri's incessant tears?) Characters who were posed to be major threats to Miri during the first half of the show suddenly became utterly ineffectual; no doubt in my mind this is attributed to the story's emphasis on romance toward the latter half. Supposedly, it's love that will redeem Miri in the end, but I found this to be unconvincing, sappy, and a bit incongruent for a show that began with such a dark tone. However, I can't deny the power of love in this drama---it compelled nearly every male character to run with hammer and nails in hand in order to nail themselves to Miri's cross on her behalf. Scratch that: I can't deny the power of a pretty face in this drama.
A special note has to be made of the music here. Which was AWFUL. Violins of Doom; Piano of Remorse; overuse of the opera Carmen (it wasn't particularly clever the first time); funeral march played during an engagement announcement (and many other...unique...music cues); music volume overpowering the drama. This was an almost constant distraction and source of much laughter.
Give Miss Ripley a try. If you make it through the absurd coincidences and soundtrack that mars the first two/three episodes, you'll find yourself ensnared by the labyrinthine psychology of Jang Miri, cheering for her, jeering her, distrusting her, pitying her. However, be prepared for the roar to end on a whimper.
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Especially in some episodes expressions like awwwww jaw drop
I watched every drama of GREAT
But this is on the top of the list of Great acting
And second leads are also cute specially second female lead when she uses Korean language she is very cute.
Totally i loved it.
Story is also good they had some twists and turns
Ost i loved it
The song by the main female lead is very melodious
You people will definitely want to rewatch this it's very entertaining and the romantic comedy and finally happy ending.
That's what we want right as we already have burdens in our life this show will relax you.
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Overall this is an entertaining series. I think the story and main characters are actually better than a higher rated series I also liked named The Untamed. I will definitely rewatch Sword Dynasty someday and recommend it.
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As I said, the cast was excellent. I couldn't catch a fail on their acting... It was all credible and well-done.
As for the characters... Won was really funny at the beginning and I think the drama could have been better if they added more of it at the middle of the drama. Da In was that kind of non-salt character, I didn't really like her. It was nice when she played the hate-love relationship with him but after that it was bad, she was too much of a strict/noble woman.. they had no chemistry at all, unfortunately.
However, the second main couple compensated it a lot. You can't help but fall for them.. and if you do, you'll suffer a lot. The drama scriptwriter was playing with us, I found myself holding my fists just with the thought that one of them could die. ~~~
The romance between Baek and Kkeok was also nice but very subtle for my taste.
The king and the princes were also amazing... if I was a commoner then I'd want to have fair kings like those.
The only thing that I disliked was the plot. I found it very repetitive. What on the beginning started to interest us made the drama a bit boring on the middle. The matter took a long time to be settle... I feel that the drama could have been shorter instead of wavering around the same thing over and over again.
However, this is a drama that I suggest. I started watching it yesterday and finished today because it was really good :) And it's different from others as well ^^
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So bad it is hilarious
This drama is so bad, so bad, so bad...I am pretty sure the casting of Price Zayne went;
Ok line up
Take of your shirts
Smile
Ready set go, strip...
Fastest wins...
Some people had great singing voices
Some people had ok acting skills
Only one person in the whole drama had both... and that was probably Mikey. I am pretty sure about 90% of the laughter in the drama was real and not acting, out of embarrassment... Like are you kidding me you expect me to say this with a straight face...
The humour dirty and low... The quality of the music varies but is hilarious at times.
The sound awful, the filming awful, the dog adorable... the people adorable... the characters highly lovable... I may actually miss them all... And I hardly ever miss any characters... And the budget for bananas probably huge...
To sum it up this is not for everyone but I enjoyed it in all its terrible everything and may actually rewatch an episode or two now and then ...
Also people, it is hot in the Philippines!
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1
1
1Season 2 said I will do better and it did (for the most part)!
In times when season 2 usually ends up being a disappointment, this one was actually better than its predecessor. The story was stronger, the acting by both leads improved, and their communication and chemistry were far better. The only thing that disappointed me was Shirasaki 2.0. His problem wth an inferiority complex with Hayama was almost the same or a little better if I am being nice. And I might have been okay with it, but he sort of projected on Hayama and it entirely didn't sit right with me.Season 2 starts with Hayama and Shirasaki in their dating era when they are not working on the same set together. The narrative explores the difficulty of being in a relationship under the constant pressure and scrutiny in the entertainment industry, issues of professional ambition, jealousy and personal insecurities that arise when private relationships intersect with public careers. And for the most part, it did manage to do it.
Starting with the characters, Asami Hayama is the kind of character who feels too much but only lets very little slip through. At first glance, he is a perfect example of calm and composed and someone who has life in control. But once you dare to look past that exterior, he is fighting his own demons. His internal conflicts shape him in meaningful ways, both good and bad. While I acknowledge that he withheld emotions to a fault, however, this also gives him a certain steadiness. He isn't impulsive with emotions.
Shirasaki had its moments, but overall it was a hit-and-miss for me. Starting with the positives, his acting journey was impressive. He is new to acting world and the way he adapted and was more open to feelings than career-hardened characters was nice. What I have complaints about from him is being Hayama's boyfriend and that inferiority complex from season 1. This whole 'I need to prove myself or qualify to stand beside someone who already treasured him without conditions' didn't work for me. This race in his mind made him look fragile and insecure and in all the wrong ways.
I supported his outburst but the way it was delivered nullified the impact and effect of it. The way he projected his insecurities and made it about him rather than considering or understanding Hayama's feelings rubbed me the wrong way. I guess they say it right, words matter but so does the tone.
Coming to the chemistry, it was way better than Season 1 and it shines brightly in some moments. There were fewer communication gaps and internal monologues. They had their sweet soft moments where all the colours shine, whether it is attraction, fear or longing. It might be more enjoyable for me due to them being an established couple this season. I would have liked more moments of them together, digging deeper into their relationship and themselves a bit more.
Acting-wise, both the leads were really good. Nihara Taisuke, as Shirasaki benefited the most with BL under the BL concept. Komagine Kiita was good too. I enjoyed the role of Kuroki Keita, played by Natsuki Omi. Shoma was better than the previous season but we have a long way to go for him.
Production and cinematography were beautiful and clean. I liked the set design and overall, it elevated the tone of the story. I loved the close-ups and directing sequences. Another plus point from a visual perspective was the shift from their in-drama characters to their “real-life” versions (still on screen, of course xD) was surprisingly smooth.
Overall, while it is not perfect with pacing a bit slow in the middle, it was definitely an enjoyable watch. Even though the leads fumble their way sometimes, their relationship feels grounded in real human flaws. I would recommend it if you liked season 1 because it was better than that in my books!
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This review may contain spoilers
Secret to a Good Short Length Drama: Steal, Cheat, & Lie
I. The GoodI'm surprised that this drama is hovering at 7.8 stars at the time of review, but I'm more surprised by the ease at which I am rating this a 9 out of 10 stars. There are a plethora of good things to rave about.
The storyline is short, sweet, and compelling, told with a dash of titillating scenes. The FL is introduced as an unconcerned equal-opportunity hussy, who allows only good-looking toy boys to remain at her manor. Meanwhile, the ML graduated first class honours from bodyguard-cum-assassin training school. Quite early on, the audience are given hints that the ML is not who he says he is, but for his purposes, he introduces himself to the FL as one sibling of the pair that she'd save a decade ago. The FL is intrigued by his good looks and allows him to remain, and the first few episodes play with the question of where his loyalties lay. He ultimately proves himself loyal to the FL, whereupon she promptly devours him like a delicious snack (who wouldn't?). After the FL defeats who she thinks is the main villain, the real villains rise from the embers to steal her happiness and reveal who has been cheating and lying to her (spoiler alert: everyone). The drama does close with happy ending, so rejoice you faithless creatures.
The acting was surprisingly good. HYY (FL) was luxuriously seductive when playing the coquette, but could subtly shift her expressions and gestures to play the restrained daughter and weary human. LZH (ML) played his role as an outraged virgin, serious bodyguard-assassin, mortified ex-virgin, and shy simp with equal skill-- but I was so distracted by how he looked like Wang Hedi for most of his scenes. WTH (FL's brother) effortlessly portrayed a mild-mannered obsessive antagonist.
The makeup, costumes, and set are exquisitely gorgeous-- so much so, I'm wondering what was the budget for this drama. They were full-length-drama worthy. The theme songs were equally poignant and liable to give you stuck song syndrome.
II. The Bad (Major spoiler alert!)
The drama doesn't tie up all loose ends neatly. We never find out why the ML was so intent on killing the assassin he chased down in episode 1 (although one assumes that is who murdered Bai Chen), who is Ling Rong's father, when or why did Ya Shu join the FL's camp, or when did Zhan Yue Chi meet the FL and why is he so obsessed with her. The scenes also had minor struggles with continuity issues. For example, during their date night, the FL had run off with the lube and the ML was left holding the mask. But in the next scene, the FL is holding the mask in her left hand and dragging the ML along with her right. Cut to the next scene, and the mask is back in the ML's hand.
All these are minor issues that don't really mess with the audience's viewing pleasure. I still would have ignored these pesky details and rated this drama higher if it weren't for the ugly.
III. The Ugly
Episode 23 is quite literally ugly, and episode 24 is storytelling ugly. We've been given beautiful scenes and seamless choreography all the way up to Episode 23, when suddenly at the last minute, utterly awful CGI rises and smashes you across the face like a sperm whale. Episode 24 doesn't explain why the ML runs off, or why he is so adamant to not return with the FL. Although he supplies a weak answer about visiting his sister, the explanation doesn't justify his strong reaction. It is as if we're missing crucial 5 minutes that the production team ultimately decided to cut out, but failed to consider how the episode appears without those scenes. They tried to fix it with the FL's response and offer, but even one line from the ML along the lines of "You know me so well" would have smoothed out the incongruous scene.
IV. Final Words
Ultimately, this drama is captivating and unputdownable. Except for the few irksome flaws, you will blast through the ~240 minutes directly and go back for seconds.
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Realistic depiction of the complexities of Love
This is not just a typical plot based romantic drama with fluff and beautiful faces. Of course, it has beautiful faces (and I can’t wait to see Edward Chen, my newest crush, but I digress). After finishing the drama, I love it even more the when I started. This drama that leaves you thinking after each episode ends.This is a great study/exploration on human’s need for companionship, human shortfalls, human motivation, different views on what love means; basically the complexities of relationships/ love. In a way, every character has their own selfishness & shortfall that causes failures in their relationships. It feels realistic as we can think of a few people in our own lives who have similarities. We cannot be quick to judge anyone’s actions (except maybe a couple of characters) because they are imperfect humans just like us.
The quality of the production is top notch in my book. You feel the vibe of these cities they live in. The actors are fantastic. The way it’s directed is interesting and creative. It interjects skits that summarizes the theme of each episode.I appreciate how it uses symbolism (in stead of just narrating peoples thoughts) to depict a person’s character, or the MFL’s internal battle/thoughts with her conscience which is supposed to guide her but doesn’t always succeed nor is it always right. Each episode you learn a little more about each character and boy…..it changes how you view them. All the complexities make this drama a fun, interesting, and worthwhile watch.
I look forward to soak up my one episode a day.
Updated after finishing (below comments do not give away specific details but may give overall ending):
I bumped this drama up to a 10 for me due to enjoyment value.
This is an enjoyable self growth drama. Realistic. Three ladies with different backgrounds, motivations, and values. Neither one feels fulfilled in their current lives. As they embark on the journey of life seeking what they think will fulfill it, they discover what truly does with the support of true friendships. Love the various relationships portrayed, whether romantic, platonic , family, or professional. Love the growth of each character.
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