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The Writers Forgot...
I watched this as part of a watch party. For the most part, the first six episodes of the show, although not perfect, were fun, and the story surrounding his biological father had me intrigued. The comedy, although exaggerated, had me cackling. I enjoyed them a lot. Up till then, the show was an 8 to an 8.5. Then, episode 7 happened.The show went on a downward spiral from there. I thought it would recover before the end, but it didn't. The female lead was annoying and childish. Her crying started grating on my nerves and the way she kept hitting the male lead's head despite knowing his condition baffled me. She was completely devoid of critical thinking. Hae Jo, the male lead, had strong douchebag tendencies. I know the way he tried to push people out of his life stemmed from the neglect he suffered while growing up, but there were times that I had to shake my head at the comments he made to the people around him. They were honestly kind of perfect for each other... There were also too many filler scenes and dubious relationships. At times, it felt like the writer(s) were suffering from the same terminal illness as the male lead. Why would you write all this tension surrounding Eo Heung and John, only to have her ask him to be her second son? What? Come again? That was not the only strange relationship dynamic, there were others. It was like they simply forgot what they had written previously. The reconciliation with the trash father was also irritating, anticlimactic, and felt like an afterthought as it was not well developed. I am not going to delve deeper into that. This show could have also been 8 episodes. It did not need 10. This story had so much potential and it could have been one of the better 2024 K-dramas.
The show features California Dreamin’ by The Mamas & the Papas which is honestly one of my favorite songs and the other OST songs are decent too. It also had beautiful cinematography. There were truly beautiful shots.
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I Hope the Original Author Sued the Production Team.
Story: This drama starts from what I thought was a mainstream RPR (Regression, Possession, Reincarnation) drama that will focus on a justice-obsessed main character. I'm proven wrong, as Jin Do Jun will use any means necessary to further his revenge, even if it means besmirching his late Grandfather's reputation. The schemes, the backstabbing, and the battle of wits are epic. As far as the story goes, if the production team decided to just follow the original ending like in the novel, it would be a perfect drama. BUT NO! The production team decided on their own ending for the drama, which ruined its whole point. For the production team, I respectfully give you all of my available middle fingers. Just like what Yoon Hyun Woo said to his father in Episode 14, you just have to stay f*cking still to be a help, so why don't you? The rating for this part for me is 9 out of 10 before the finale. After that, it went downhill to just 1.Acting & Music: I'm new to Korean drama and their culture, but even I could see that the dynamic between Do Jun and his Grandfather is gold. On the one hand, you have a clever, witty, and daredevil grandson; on the other, you have the most badass grandfather you could have in your entire life. The clash between the two is the most awaited scene for me. The music for this drama is beautifully done. 10 out of 10 for this part.
Rewatch Value: Yeah, no. This drama was supposed to be an adaptation of the webnovel so that the series could be more popular and widely known. But with this kind of ending, I doubt this drama has a rewatch value. Unless you just watch the first 15 episodes and make your own ending, Do Jun beat the bad guys and live happily after with his loved ones.
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It could be so much better
We all know this could be so much better.It was messy and boring at times. The acting is the only reason I'm giving it a high score. The actors were all amazing.
I don't like the beauty ideal message sent by the drama. I wish we could stop feeding the plastic surgery industry. It makes me think they have a drama lobby.
Somehow all the dramas that deal with looks different than the ideal all try to change the person instead of working for acceptance. You see that with beauty and weight (oh my venus, gangnam beauty, coffee do me a favor).
Even the drama weightlifting fairy kim bok joo has that problem, calling perfectly normal women overwheight and recommending skin whitening creams (that one didn't escape me and I hate that drama for that.)
It's 2020. Let's start accepting people come in all shapes and sizes. More diversity and true acceptance lead to a better and kinder society. Stop brainwashing young girls and young women into thinking they need to change their looks to be accepted or valuable. They don't.
I also have a thing with the main song! YOU HAVE SOME NERVE SINGING I'M SO LONELY WHILE WE'RE WATCHING THE LEADS KISS!!! hahaha
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Realistic Cuteness Overload; A Breath of Fresh Air
Never expected this drama to be so realistic and light. I watched primarily for CZY because I wanted to see him develop into a mature male actor. I've seen several actors previously so I knew it would be a good cast. It really was cuteness overload but probably one of the least toxic c-dramas I've ever seen. It was a real breath of fresh air.Pros: Favorite character was ML and I'm very proud of how he's grown from playing younger roles to a mature male who let me tell you, when he turned on those eyes of his, he'd melt women of all ages into a puddle. Other than that, he was also probably one of the most caring individuals on earth. Life dealt him a very cruel hand with what his father did and that stalker chick, but instead of curling into a ball and giving up, he just strove to be a better person worthy of the love of everyone around him especially the only one who truly loved every piece of him, our FL SZ.
Most of the story was very well developed. And honestly, other than the stalker chick, there wasn't a single character I didn't like. She was the main antagonist I guess you could say. FL, her parents, bro and all of their friends were just wonderful. I do have to say that I don't know about China but in the US, if you live as a resident in a quad in college, it's beyond rare that everyone gets along so well. I was never a resident but a commuter but my resident friends told me all sorts of stories back in the day. The fact that SZ lived with and got along so well with her roommates just adds to the loveliness of this story.
This story had you mostly laughing at the antics of our leads and everyone else. But it was also very inspirational and sometimes it even made you tear up. SZ was more mature in some aspects then people gave her credit for. Though I do wish many of her inner monologues came out of her mouth instead, she was endearing, kind, respectful, caring, loving, and fiercely protective of those she loved the most.
Everything had its rightful progression to a point. I have nothing to complain about the settings, OSTs, etc. Their moments together once they start coming together were the best and of course the comedy. But there is a con section though it won't be that long.
Cons: While I understand the misunderstandings as people have that makes them imagine or overthink when they're young; but it shouldn't happen when they're adults in a relationship or even by 12th grade in high school. Miscommunication is a known relationship killer. SZ never asks DJX what he's thinking but goes full steam ahead on her own assumptions which are usually worse case scenarios and completely false. DJX also doesn't open up to her and then they end up finding out through other means and how foolish it looks. But instead of learning and not doing it again, they keep repeating it. Even by episode 24, she still thought he was considering breaking up with her.
Then DJX's not dealing with the stalker as soon as he paid off the debt. Why? Her harassing him just complicated things for him both literally and psychologically. If he didn't find out she went after SZ, would he ever have dealt with her? What if she flew to Nanwu to find him?
The thing I wish there was less of were the flashbacks of SZ's childhood. Like once she became an adult, end those. We know what's going on. It wasn't until episode 3 that this drama picked up for me. But I'm very glad I stuck around.
Would I recommend it? Definitely. From all the ones I'm watching it was the only one that made me laugh and love little moments that I would rewind just to get a little bit more. I'm very glad I watched this drama and you should give it a chance too.
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SPOILERS ALERT. Please do not continue reading if you don't want to know the story line.Synopsis:
Jie You (Zhang Xin Yi) is a young, lively and enthusiastic girl who traveled with her group of friends and her teacher as a performance group. Jie You was an orphan and was picked up by her teacher. When she was picked up, she had a piece of jade around her neck. During their travels in the desert, she sets off on her own to look for water sources and meets Weng Gui (Yuan Hong) who was fighting with xiong nu soldiers.
The second time they meet was when she was performing a magic trick and Weng Gui was hiding from the xiong nu soldiers in her performance box. He had been badly injured and Jie You chose to let him stick with them. After she had treated him, Weng Gui lied that he was just a merchant from WuSun. After a series of events, they got closer and together they tried to help Jie You find out about her parents. Weng Gui however was actually on a mission to visit the Han Emperor to raise a marriage between the Han and WuSun for the sake of alliance. He left his dagger with Jie You and told her that no matter where she went, he would find her as long as she kept the dagger close to her. By then they had fallen deeply in love with one another.
However, Jie You discovers that she is actually related to the imperial family. In a twist of fate, she ends up being chosen as the he qin gong zhu of Han and will thus marry the king of Wu Sun, who also happens to be Weng Gui's brother. Throughout the show, many times Jie You has to choose between being the princess of Han to doing what is right for the citizens of WuSun, against her will to be with the love of her life, Weng Gui. Because Jie You helps Kun Mi (King of WuSun) share the burden of managing the country, Kun Mi gradually falls for Jie You.
During her stay in WuSun, Jie You faces many obstacles put infront of her by the princess of Xiong Nu, Hu Gu, out of jealousy for Kun Mi's liking. Jie You sacrifices being with the person she loves for the people of Han and WuSun while Weng Gui sacrifices everything for her, always coming to her rescue when she is in trouble.The plot develops along the lines of 2 people deeply in love who are so close yet so far, and the sacrifices they make for each other.
Acting:
The casts are extremely good as the chemistry between Zhang Xin Yi and Yuan Hong is out of this world! And yes they are dating in real life after acting together in this drama. In this show Yuan Hong is able to pull of the character as one who is a child at heart but becomes a mature man when it comes to the woman he loves. Zhang Xin Yi also portrays the character of Jie You extremely well, being able to show that Jie You is weak at times but able to put up a strong front when it is needed of her. The scenes in which she struggles to make decisions are always well put up, reflecting her psychological torment.
Music:
I love the opening theme song and can't stop listening to it.
Overall:
I would totally watch this drama again. I somehow feel that the romance scenes had a lot of potential to be improved because of the story line. A lot of romance scenes which I saw in the trailers of this show did not seem to have made it to the actual 45 episodes of the show. I hope that there is actually a 46 episode version that includes those scenes. Strongly recommend this drama as I think it is underrated.
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oh....my.
wow...I know I am not alone in feeling incredibly disappointed in how this drama turned out. what started out as a hopeful coming of age story about growing up and finding your place in the world...ended with an hour of "your friendships of youth are meant to be kept in the past...deal with it :)"Twenty-Five, Twenty-One started out (and, honestly, continued to be until about episode 14) as one of the most genuine, engaging, and hopeful dramas I had seen in a long time. the characters were charming, but also human, with flaws and development that really made you feel like you were growing up with them. their friendships were the kind that had struggles, but as they grew up, they learned how to navigate these conflicts. it showed the realities of growing up, young love, and finding your place in the world.
and then it totally crashed and burned.
here's the thing, I actually am all for bittersweet, or even sad, endings. I just did not feel like this one did the story justice. it was such a...non-ending, that it felt like a cheap cop-out to get an emotional reaction, which was in stark contrast to the rest of the drama, where each of the emotional moments was in the story for an obvious developmental reason. I knew from the start that this drama would probably not have a "happy" ending, but nonetheless, I was very disappointed in this.
the ending, which provided no true closure for anyone but Hee-Do (kind of), felt like it was communicating a message that any friendship that happens in your childhood is...intended to be left there? that none of the youthful love or hope you have can follow you into adulthood... this, paired with how melancholy adult Hee-Do seems to feel about her life, was incredibly strange in contrast to the other 14 episodes of character development and hopeful storytelling.
all in all, it left a bad taste in my mouth. I feel like this drama was designed to be watched while it aired, and it created great engagement in the audience due to this fact...and maybe this is why the ending felt short. they kept the "mystery" going for too long, in a way that did not leave them time to truly flesh out the ending. I am not sure. I feel like they could have kept the "open ending" concept, and just tweaked it a bit... showing us that some of the friendship group were still in touch, or something...the fact the drama went to such great lengths to keep all the side couples together, and then threw out not only the main couple's romance but also their very long friendship so abruptly... hm. it just felt incredibly out of place and incredibly disappointing.
perhaps this is all a testament to how lovely the first chunk of the drama was! I highly recommend the first 14 or so episodes...but save yourself and do not watch the finale. it is not worth it.
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Good idea, boring execution
To be honest, I was bored. So the question I’m asking myself is, why?Well, this is a thriller, but there were precious little thrills for most of it. I did think that the idea behind the plot was good—triggering self-destruct mechanisms, light the fuse and then step back. It offers great opportunities for building tension but I don’t think that the overall production capitalised on the potential.
The pace was a constant plod. It needed some speed variations, some light and shade, some better twists and turns and a great deal more tension. This is really a problem across the board from the writer, through the director to the editing suite. The only thing that had any zing was the cinematography, which was beautifully realised.
The characters, including the protagonist, were universally unlikeable. Song Hye Kyo had a stone-face throughout and I was not impressed by her performance. The main problem for me was that the characters were not presented in any depth and for the most part had one mode of operation. For a plot built on the premise of self-destruction, the characters have to be much more carefully realised. Also, with so many antagonists, their inter-relationships did not have enough time to develop to the point where I was engaged. Maybe if Lee Sa Ra and even Son Myeong Oh were omitted that would have made room for more character breadth and detailed interactions.
As it was, I was totally unmoved by any of them and fairly disinterested in what happened to them. The most interesting character for me was Ha Do Young, played by Jung Sung Il, who brought more subtlety to the realisation of his part than any of the others. So when you’ve got nothing much going on in the plot and you don’t feel any interest or attachment to any of the characters, what is there to keep your attention?
One thing that always hacks me off is when the psychology is wrong and it is here. Dong Eun can be triggered into horrendous flashbacks which completely cripple her, but shows no hesitation in confronting and challenging her torturers face to face in isolated places without a tremor or a drop sweat breaking out. This type of dichotomy is simply not credible. Her character relies on words for her safety, but it is emotions that provoke damage and they are much quicker off the mark. So her interactions with the emotion driven antagonists are undermined. It is even more unbelievable because no explanation is offered regarding any of the psychological processes that turned her from fearful victim to controlled aggressor.
What my rating means: 6+ Some aspects of it were OK but it had serious flaws. It will pass the time but you can find something better.
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Fantastic throughout but slipped in the finale
There could have been no better project than this for Lee Jong Suk to make a comeback through. I wanted to anticipate a lot but I had also in my mind that this could be another regular thriller drama with typical elements and development. However, by the interval (better late than never), I came to realize that this is way above the standard and is actually unique of a script. It might not be a masterpiece but it is admittedly is an excellent piece of thriller.Developed by ‘Studio Dragon’ and Produced by ‘AStory’ & ‘A-Man Project’, “Big Mouth (빅마우스)” is a hardboiled crime cum legal drama. Directed by Oh Choong Hwan and broadcasted on MBC, the drama was written by debutant writer Kim Ha Ram under the guidance of ace scriptwriters Jang Young Chul and Jung Kyung Soon. Made with 30bn won budget, it was also distributed by Disney+.
The drama keeps at center, Park Chang Ho (Lee Jung Suk), an infamous attorney with low success rate, who is known to distribute huge & empty promises, but fails to do anything, hence being named, ‘Big Mouth’ from his school days. Despite being an orphan, he has been lucky enough to have Ko Mi Ho (Im Yoon Ah) in his life, who is a skilled nurse at a famous hospital. One day, he gets a proposal from the Gucheon city mayor Choi Do Ha (Kim Joo Hun) to handle a mysterious murder case, solely because of his incompetence.
However, during his attempt to unveil the truth, he finds himself being framed as the notorious conman ‘Big Mouth’ who has been uncaught after scamming thousands of billion won sum. As every wind turns against him and his life changes overnight, he prepares himself within the Gucheon Penitentiary to fight his best to get out of it, while Miho too pulls strings to help solve the mystery surrounding the case and get to the root of it.
Other familiar actors in the drama playing major roles are: Lee Gi Young, Kwak Dong Yeon, Oh Ui Shik, Yang Kyung Won, Jeon Guk Hwan, Yang Hyung Wook, Ok Ja Yeon, Kim Jung Hyun, Jung Jae Sung, Jang Hyuk Jin, Kim Sun Hwa, Lee Yoo Joon, Oh Ryoong, Yoon Suk Hyun, Park Hoon, Kim Dong Won, Hong Ji Hee, Song Kyung Chul and Yoo Tae Joo.
Plot development is top-notch and the progression is definitely untypical of what ypu usually see in Kdrama thrillers. The pilot episode did a good job in establishing a background of both the story and the protagonist’s history, describing as to why he was called ‘big mouth’. The follow-up was steady and smooth showing how the protagonist tries to convince a mass of people as a part of his grand plan. Introduction of various elements and untwisting many knots further develops and builds immense interest of the show and I guess the ratings and popularity were hiked. There are several twists and peaks in each episode to hold the suspense and there was not a single sequence of events that lost its way. More than once, the show has such turning events that changes the entire dimension of the then situation of the show. The finale sequence would have been a pleasure and if you see it’s not really messed up but there were things that could have been avoided and there were things that could have been done better.
The two creators are pro-gamers in the industry and undoubtedly their tips have worked but in spite, it amazes me to discover that the main writer is a debutant, and this is not even an adaptation from where one can refer to for screenwriting. In short, the new jakka-nim has hit the spot proving their skills. From setting the stage, to enabling smooth and well-paced flow and from nurturing the characters to producing exciting outcomes, the show was thoroughly entertaining. Different plot elements served as a great deal of engagement. The dialogues and the momentary monologue narrations, particularly for the male protagonist, were very striking.
Making his comeback after 2 years, the maker of many popular modern dramas, Oh Choong Hwan PDnim has again been successful in implanting the entertainment factor within the audience. Owing to his directorial talent, this drama was excellent from every aspect. The very execution of screenplay has done wonders in a way that this will definitely be something the Kdrama stans will remember for long. The scenario of the Gucheon Penitentiary was well-planned and the setup meant to give off noir and shady vibes with a sense of darkness suited very well. The screen-editing with different types of sequence organization plus the sound production, made the experience even more thrilling and exhilarating.
Composed by Park Se Joon and written & sung by Justhis, “Brand New” is the one and only OST in this drama which is a rap song that was introduced at the end of the 8th episode, i. e. exactly at the interval, where a major twist takes place. I swear the vibes of the scene with the initial rap-lines were so gripping and rip-roaring that it instantly gave me goosebumps.
A case of mistaken identity escalating to a fight for survival is not new for Kdramas but what makes the drama to stand out is a unique storyline and stupendous execution. To be very honest, the theme and the overall mood of the drama are not that shabby and dark for the noir genre, instead the script is also decorated with lighter elements, which comes as a must for Korean dramas, that includes the individual arcs as well as various relationships between two and among two. I was particularly touched by the bonding between Chang Ho and his father-in law Ko Ki Kwang (Lee Ki Young), who were also co-worker at Changho’s own law firm. We can say that among all the chaos and misery he had to experience inside the prison, those moments worked like strength for him to prepare the road ahead.
Lee Jong Suk has taken up this chance of playing a character than his usual taste to challenge, learn and nurture his skills and he has visibly aced it. The range of dynamics he covers actually takes a lot to carry out: from a witless lawyer and fulsome family-man to a savage leader and wise survivor, who has to choose between life and death. Whereas the drama serves as a vehicle prepared for his comeback and he was not really exceptional, it was still appealing as a whole.
Contrastingly, Miho is lovingly yet perceptive lady who knows her strength and limits and acts with a calculative mind. Yoona is already a splendid actress and she carried out Miho very well. The medical conspiracy subplot that was portrayed through illegal and inhumane research projects done in secret and indulging Miho as the key-rider in unveiling it, was surely interesting but it somehow felt like the medium of giving Yoona more screentime, when it didn’t really relate with the main plot at times and lacked plausibility.
Kim Joo Heon as a main character is an exciting news for me, he has been a favorite actor and once again, he’s proved how fantastic skills he possesses. His firm facial expressions are the best aspect about him and the way he has utilized it throughout the show was compelling.
Yang Kyung Won’s performance as an antagonist was entertaining for sure though I had issues with accepting and adjusting with it in the initial episodes, but he improved quickly. I guess we have been so used to seeing him in the comic roles that it resulted in the awkwardness albeit his fierce negative role in a recent drama.
Romance is limited so expect the least if some of the initial sequences give you the idea that there is a lot of it in the drama. In a way, this fact serves as a strength for the overall development and quality. The love between the leads is limitless though, for the way they communicate and exchange emotions even though they don’t share much time onscreen together.
The antagonist side unlike others is very strong in the sense that, they are not very radical and know their limits and how to work with that. The hierarchy among them has been portrayed accurately with a prey-predator concept, as they are constantly pushed to pursue the leases of one another. The order of unveiling the evil was likable ngl, and then, the shift in influence was quite interesting.
The makers should be applauded for the plot elements, development and execution; all these resulted in building up a good amount of suspense. Given the usual trend in such thriller dramas, the chapter by chapter progression has been sketched in a way that, it was not at all easy to guess few things even by throwing stones into the dark. The kind of myriad twists and turn of events in the latter half of the show, especially the last four episodes, had me at awe; there were times it gave me goosebumps and had my eyes opened.
It was interesting how the drama has adapted innovative approaches in order to tackle simple subjects, by completely turning it around for which the outcomes always look much refined. A lot happened in the first episode, in the finale and in between, as well. The story and the premises entirely grip you before you realize it and the slow & steady transformation in Changho, i. e. his character development is beguiling for sure.
I am particularly upset with the ending because I was manifesting a lot. The elements there were actually caused and rooted in previous episode so we were assuming something like that might happen but when it actually did, I think it did feel a little off. the sequence of events felt rushed for sure and then the huge blow I was expecting didn’t happen at all and the manner in which things took turn were a little underwhelming. I am sure the writer must have thought it through before adding this particular event for a major character but I wish it didn’t happen.
Final Remarks… Big Mouth offers a wide range of ingredients of entertainment ad enjoyment and is actually a good thriller that should be tagged in the must watch list. With high production values and amazing performance, it results into appealing and satisfying outcomes even though there were aspects that could have been avoided from a critical pov. Please go ahead and watch it and you will realize that it has everything that pulls you in and holds you back. It was a easy 9.0 until the finale happened, so yeah!
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It's not your typical drama with a "Candy" female lead(which the drama was never ashamed of pointing out). Instead we finally get a realistic girl who does not love a man only for himself but also for his money. I know, right? Finally! Yes, those "Candy" girls are amazing creatures, but do they exist? Nope. Of course, there was some disadvantages to this along the way. Such as there was always this risk of disliking the female lead, which is definitely not a good sign. There were moments, when I wanted to throw my angry bunnies at her (which I can't, since apparently, they don't sell it *raises sad bunny*. Heads' up producers!). It's constantly at risk of turning to hate, but every time, the character manages to impress me. Whether from not running away as expected, or turning her boss to school. It was a love-hate thing. But I definitely loved her more times than hate though.
I like that this couple balances each other out. The drama's plot would lead us to believe that he's saving the girl with his money but really, she's helping him differentiate what's real and not. Also, she's helping him mend his broken relationship with his dad.
I considered giving this drama a 9 because of the ending, but when I look at back at some moments, I just scratched my head, so that's what kept me. I disliked how throughout the series, we're basically just waiting for the ball to drop. We know it's gonna happen, and hate that it's going to. It would've been great if they got that out of the way earlier. That way, I wouldn't have to brace for the impact throughout the drama, cowering down in fear of seeing poor Seung Jo hurt. This drama was far from unpredictable. But I do have to commend that there was really no villains, when there was, the conflict created by that villain didn't really drag for long.
There was tons of heartfelt moments, and I think it all added up to the "goods" of the drama, the reason why it far outweighs the "bad". The relationship of Daddy Cha and Seung Jo was just so awkwardly cute. It's the first time I've like an this much in-law in a while. I was actually surprised to care sooo much about the other characters besides the main couple. Despite characters that you could so easily hate, you understand their decisions, that they're just in the wrong path, and want them to come out of that tunnel.
Acting: If we're talking about acting and this drama, Park Shi Hoo should be the first name mentioned. He was all over this drama, all with his dorky self and his "kamsa" (gratitude). Really, I was just wishing for the girl to just throw him a bone here and give him tons of those. He carried most of the comedy by himself. I'm kinda worried for my next drama now, since having a Siwon and a Park Shi Hoo acting all goofy in my last two dramas would set the bar high. Next k-drama hero, you have a huge expectation to up-hold!
I was a bit disappointed with Moon Geun Young. She was good and she made me cry (as usual), but I was expecting a lot more. Throughout her performance, I was seeing shades of the awesome to come or the awesome she did in Cinderella's Sister, but instead I just kept thinking, "MOAR please". Maybe I set the bar too high, since she's that awesome since CS, but, she is capable of better. I was thinking if it was the character. Which, admittedly, was a bit dull, doesn't quite match up to Seung Jo's quirky self. That when they're in a scene together, you literally can see the light coming out of Seung Jo while on Se Kyung's side, it's all gloom. Or whether it's her acting, I can't figure it out. Those loving looks Moon Geun Young gives though, makes me swoon a bit. In this drama, she still didn't fail to bring in the chemistry despite the age gap (which never really occurred to me). Yeah, I'm bettin' it was the role. Maybe I'm biased, but turn around and, "SHHHHH".
I was pleasantly surprised by So Yi Hyun's performance. From watching Heartstrings, she was just 'downer ballerina' to me, who I wanted off my screen ASAP. But here, I totally believe her. When her world was in the midst of crushing down, her fear when realization hit, everything about it, made me root for her. I sincerely wanted her to get her own happy ending. Kim Ji Suk... MY GOD. I didn't like him in PT (didn't really find him that handsome), but wow... he's smart and sexy here. You've made a fan. Now, where's your own drama?
What kept me from giving the acting a ten, was Kim Yoo Ri. She wasn't good, not even near serviceable. She tries to too act cool, and fails, which kept her from giving the character any depth, with 'jealousy' tattooed all over her face. It doesn't help that her character was the epitome of predictable and every other villain we see in dramaland.
Music: I thought it fit the scenes. I gave it a 9 probably because of my bias for the song "Daddy Long Legs" by Baek Ah Yeon. Every single time it plays, I just swoon. And pair that up with a romantic scene, I'm a goner. The fact that the lyrics are subbed as well helps, it's just lovely.
Rewatch Value: There was a lot of cute couple scenes, so maybe rewatching snippets of those would be nice. But I don't really see the point of rewatching the whole thing. With this drama, you just want to know what would happen next, how would the characters turn out, but if you already know those, it would probably be boring.
Overall: Stand-out acting by (most of) the cast. Very surprising lesson at the end, with tons of heartwarming scenes by characters you care about and coupled with an amazing OST, I dearly recommend this drama. Yes, it can be predictable, but that's not really the strength of this drama. It relies on its characters, their reactions, and the acting. I'd gladly raise a happy bunny for this drama. And... PARK SHI HOO PARK SHI HOO PARK SHI HOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
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THERES NOTHING PEACHY ABOUT THIS TRAP
We as viewers are trapped, but no theres nothing peachy about it.First of all, i am confused about the title. Being peachy means being good so does that mean its a good trap or are they being stucked in a good way? Or is it maybe implying something deeper meaning like homosexualilty since its not a concidence that this is a BL drama.
The first episode was rousing and intriguing. 3 seme guys are fighting over the obviously uke Doha. It has the mystery solving vibe to find out who kissed DoHa and who will win his heart. Except it is very obvious from the opening credits and the amount of screentime who will win in the end.
You realized after 3 episodes that this show is just running circles and going nowhere. Doha's charm quickly fizzled as we find out more (or lack thereof) and that he is just a 16 year old stucked in a 27 year old body. Like how conservative is Korea for them to pull this modus on us to make ius believe that this is a 27 year old guy's first kiss, and all these 4 guys are acting as if this is all their first time to date (or pursue someone) ever. The plot is perfect if the setting is in college or high school - but super stupid in the adult world.
I also really dont understand Korea's insistence of pushing a movie-length content and dividing it in 8 short episodes. The weekly wait just makes it annoying and what could have palatable as movie becomes so bland and underdeveloped as a series. Thisi s basically a short story overly stretchd to fit the 8 episode order.
Would i recommend? Not particularly, not unless you have gazillions of free time or if you need some background movie while cooking.
Would i rewatch? Hell no.
i do however think we'd see more of Lee Do Han as a leading man in the future.
Overall the series is a 6.5 for me.
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The romance may have been the main part in the previous two installments but this drama overall outdoes everything on every level for me(opinions may differ for all). I can only call this drama a masterpiece because NEVER have I ever seen or read or heard of such a story in my life before. This drama made me think about the beauty of relations and what kind of love is love. It is a story about remembering the past and being grateful for what you possess.
The OST happens to consist of old songs remade and it is another beauty that only enhances the drama. Every single song is jjang and goes with the mood of the drama perfectly.
When it comes to the cast, the casting was perfect. Hyeri was given such hatred in the beginning but I knew she'd be good. But she really exceeded my expectations too. All other cast members were also cute and Jin Joo will always be my favorite kid. <3
The story in spite of being so beautiful, was flawed. Towards the last quarter of the drama the characterizations went bad and some plots drug out too much. Trying not to focus on the romance at all in the drama kind of ruined it in some ways. The romance was cute but the love triangle wasn't executed properly. I think it's okay because whatever the writer wanted was accomplished. I found myself changing ships midway and Deok Sun indeed ended up with the one I wanted her to be.
This drama was a real charm and gave me 10 memorable weeks which I shall never forget. I'll always rewatch this drama and watching it in one go would be a treat, because it was a torture waiting for every week for the subs to come out.
You may or may not like this better than the "best" Reply 1997 but it's surely an improvement over 1994 and leagues apart from the other two combined for me. But- PLEASE do WATCH it.
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1The actors played their characters so well , when you watch the movie you’ll get a package of awesomeness from the action thing and you’ll burst your laugh from the comedy. That’s why i said before you’ll get a full package when you watched the movie.
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Execution is all that matters.
Produced by 'Arc Media' and distributed by 'Disney+', "Kiss Sixth Sense (키스 식스 센스) is a semi-fantasy plus office romcom drama adapted from the hit Naver webtoon of the same title authored by Gatnyeo (갓녀). Written by Jeon Yu Ri and directed by Nam Ki Hoon, the drama has 12 episodes in total.The story follows two people who have special abilities of sense, which rooted from a single event, falling in love during the course of time as they work together in the Planning Team 1 of Zeus ad company. Hong Ye Seul (Seo Ji Hye) is an aspiring employee who has made it upto to remarkable positions through her noteworthy work. She has the ability to see the future when her lips touch anyone. Cha Min Hu (Yoon Kye Sang) is chief of the team and Ye Seul’s mentor who is strict and is known for picking on others. He can hear even the quitest voice from distance and has issues with getting intimate with anyone. As their lips meet once accidentally, the story takes to the journey they share to be united and bring happiness in their lives.
Lee Pil Yo (Kim Ji Suk) is an acclaimed Ye Seul’s ex-boyfriend who comes back with the intension of getting back with her. Lee Joo Yeon is a famous actress and Min Hu’s childhood friend who crushes upon him. Other familiar faces in the drama in major roles are: Tae In Ho, Kim Ga Eun, Hwang Bo Ra, Late Kim Mi Soo, Kim Ki Doo, Yoo Jung Ho, Kim Jae Hwa, Kim Hee Jung, Uhm Hyo Sub, Lee Han Hwi. Park Seung Geun and Jo Hee Bong. Also, there are many known popular actors as guest characters in the drama as well.
Plot development is very good. Ngl, the pilot episode and the furtherance in the next were extremely bland, a bit hard to get into, with confusing introductions and unrelatable flashbacks to past. But somehow things started to make sense as soon as the ep3 started with major confrontation events plus the way the advertising tasks kept playing out in a goal-assigning manner. With the beginning of chemistry development followed by romance (not gonna say when), the show became even more interesting and in all that, was paralleled a tiny mystery plot involving the main characters which shares the minimum screentime with not-so-very-deep essence and very well utilized as a subplot. The unveiling of mystery as well as the romance recital were handled smoothly though the former could have better fates but anyways, the final outcomes were beautifully presented. I loved the ending sequence as well and yes, the pacing was near perfect for a 12eps show.
With the experience of only one basic romcom 4 years ago with average reception, Jeon Yu Ri jakka-nim probably made a good choice by opting to adapt the novel as a way of learning. The genre is old, the story is basic and the concept isn’t noteworthy, but the elements are gratifying, the development is refreshing and the execution is amazing, which I must say was unexpected on personal level. The character arcs have been beautifully built up and I loved how the writer has emphasized on untypical possibilities to the ending of relationships (as in by the drama ends).
Having worked in multiple genre dramas on equal levels, Nam Ki Hoon PDnim is a familiar face in the industry known for his good sense of bringing out the best from the most basic scripts. The drama surely doesn’t require very good skills but the fact that the production value of it has resulted in good quality indicates the work of the director.
The scenario set up, being held equally in and out –side of the office was nice. Also, the screen-editing is up to par with sumptuous sound production; not just the OSTs have been well-incorporated but the accessory background scores are well-composed, particularly the continuous whistle tune was alleviating. The cinematography work is not proficient, ngl, but the plain and calm hue of office and the contrasting nature with vivid colours were all pleasant to witness.
There are 8 OSTs in total…
"You're Like Americano” by Yuju
"Even If You Can't Have It” by Zia
"Kiss Sixth Sense" by Lee Jun Hwa
"Fantasy" by Suran
"You Make Me” by Woong San
"Stay With Me" by Grizzly
"Give You Everything" by Na Yoon Kwon
"Here We Are" by Jay Yeon (SWAY)
What I liked…
# Monologues by Ye Seul were both inspiring and thought-provoking; the conflicts she had with her own heart was poured into beautiful and warm words and you can take few notes about dating relationships as well.
# The sensibility to the characters through mistakes and learnings were nice to watch as the characters chose to make themselves freer of whatever was holding them back. The original webtoon writer and the drama screenwriter should be credited for painting and panning out them respectively.
# Seo Ji Hye’s acting was natural in here, the character’s soft yet confident gesture makes her likable. Similarly for Yoon Kye Sang, his firm accent and proficient dialogue delivery clearly speaks of his experience.
# The love story is mature and there is apt amount of romance between the leads as well as the screen-time provided to the 2nd couple. In fact the way the characters handled their relationship and the mandatory accompanying elements were realistic. They have put particular emphasis on transparency.
# Hwang Bo Ra who played Yeonhee (Seul’s bestie in the office) is very suiting for funny comic roles and I am happy to see her again in another office romance drama and also with short hair (again).
# The mystery plot has been given the appropriate exposure and the way it panned out in the series with a a standard ending, I’m quite satisfied. Well, they make it obvious about the culprit with good intentions but the utilization did result well.
# Limited amount of fantasy did eventuated well imo though the basis of the show was fantasy only. I love the fact that they didn’t rely on it much.
# Probably the thing I loved the most was how the makers saw it fit to explain that every relationship, despite of their kind and span of existence, deserve a sorted fate and sufficient time for the good of both the parties. I’m happy they gave this a good amount of exposure.
What I didn’t like…
# I am not really disappointed with the mystery plot ending on a rushed note or felt lacking as it becomes a connecting point for the leads but I somehow feel they could have bring out better results.
# One thing that I would have loved to see was more to the characters of the office staffs. I, in no way, mean that anything was off but it could have been better. But again, the show has only 12 episodes and they have done their best. Admittedly, they successfully showcased the works in an advertising company in detail with apt workplace environment.
Additionally, the factors that I believe the writer was able to portray through the actions of the characters were really something other creators amiss. While confessions and confrontations are important in a relationship, its only demanding to be able to acknowledge your deeds and learn from mistakes. As individuals, thinking and self-reflection could make us better human beings and Ye Seul was a stupendous flag-bearer of that throughout. Mis-predicting future or things going differently from expectations which was made to
Fiinal Remarks… Well, the drama is pretty basic and you won’t be surprised with quite a lot of things but the story is surprisingly well made and awfully sweet and refreshing, at least for viewers like me who crave for cute and straightforward romance once in a while. For me, it was a short and appealing and delightful watch for it an endearing loveline and winsome relationship, decorated with a standard fantasy and good mystery. Will definitely recommend.
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This review may contain spoilers
Melodramatic and cliché-ridden
It was honestly difficult to rate this drama. On the one hand acting performances were top tier and the cinematography was wonderful. On the other hand the script and plot devices were frustratingly poor and predictable. So, I'll start with recalling some of the positives about "First Love." I have to give credit to the amazing acting of the female lead actress Mitsushima Hikari. She plays the adult version of the character Yae and I thought her performance was very convincing and well done. She acted with her eyes and facial expressions without needing a word of dialogue to convey what her character was thinking and going through. A highlight is the scene where Yae gives her son away and is crying on the road. That scene broke me and felt so real. Another great acting performance was that of the young Harumichi played by Kido Taisei. I thought the actor stole every scene he was in. He was very charismatic and multifaceted. He brought a teen and young adult Harumichi to life. Another plus, was frankly how this drama was beautiful to look at. The way color, lighting, and scenic details were used made for a pleasing experience to the eyes.Now on to the things that made me rate this drama a 6.5.
To start, I could understand that this drama is based on a ballad "First Love" from 1999 and is clearly inspired by the melodrama romances of that era including Majo no Jouken, which interestingly enough used the song First love as it's theme. Also, I see the Taiwanese drama Autumn's Concerto as a possible influence as well. That's all fine and good, except First love 2022 incorporates all the hair splitting frustrating cliches of that bygone time and combines it into a mess of inconsistencies and plot driven narratives. And like a lot of 90s-00s melodramas, First Love starts off with promise and leaves viewers hooked only to fall flat on its face midway through. Like some reviews already covered, the tired old amnesia cliche is used as a plot device to separate our main leads. We also have the villain parent(s) that purposely keeps the young lovebirds apart, ruining their lives in the process. Very annoying! Yae gets amnesia and conveniently doesn't remember Harumichi at all. Her friend visits and even mentions him to her yet Yae never looks him up or investigates further. Yae's mother sees how her daughter is suffering for years and never tells her the truth. There were several moments that the mom made me want to punch my fist in a wall. The perfect time for Yae's mom to tell her the truth was when Yae gave up her son to her divorced husband. At this point the marriage and rich lifestyle the mother wanted for her daughter had failed so why not confess to Yae about her lost first love? In fact why was anyone keeping Yae's past from her, including the adult Harumichi? All these poor writing choices found in the worst melodramas like this one is to keep the main couple apart for as long as possible and make unnecessary events come between them. It's supposed to make for a powerful epic reunion of the lovers, but often it just results in an anticlimactic ending where viewers like myself forget to care.
Some bonus nit picks and wtfs:
*5th episode sex scene. Graphic and ill fitting for a romantic love story. Ml has sex with a random, has another scene where he gets physical with a gf, and Yae gets no intimate scenes at all. Did she have an immaculate conception or what lol.
*Harumichi's sister randomly tells Yae that her brother breastfed until 3rd grade and was addicted to pornos spending a whopping amount on AV tapes. Later in the timeline, Harumichi offers some of these porno tapes to Yae's 14 yr old son, yikes!
*Episode 8 where Harumichi just up and leaves Yae permanently and moves out of the country. Yae confessed that she loved him and he had already broke up with his fiancee. So wtf. Again, the show threw sense out the window for an "epic" reunion.
*Adult Harumichi cheated with his fiancee by kissing and flirting with Yae. What a swell guy.
*The time line issue. The first past timeline is supposed to be in the late 90s but things don't add up, such as "First love" the album and song came out April 1999. The CD is seen on display at a music store at the end of the first episode as if it's just been released making the year 99. Yet, teen Yae and Harumichi go to the theater to watch Titanic, came out in 1997 or Armageddon, which came out in 1998. I doubt these movies were still playing in Japanese theaters in 1999. Also, the CD player and earbuds used in the show look like a later model than what existed in the late 90s. Several other time period inaccuracies are present if you notice them.
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