Twists and turns
The trailer and cover photo make you think one way the story will go but it’s so so different. Rather enjoyed this! Would love to see an American version of this ! I loved the two main Leads . Did you notice that their appearance seem to change as they fell in love? Both got more attractive . Forgiveness, second chances, coping with loss all were themes but lots of humorous moments too. Really enjoyed this. Fell in love with the lead actor he is adorable and kinda sexy and kinda scary all rolled up into one .Was this review helpful to you?
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You should watch this. It is really good.
Since this a web drama (most web dramas usually don't take more than an hour each an episode) You can watch this anytime. You can watch this in only a short amount of time....By traveling back in time, she realized how hard it was for her mom. She made a lot of hard decision to make the future (or present) right. By watching this web drama, I learned that we should understand our parents because we do not know what they had been through. Even though I had to wait for the next episode for so longgg (like every 7 days), it was worth the wait. Anyway it is a really nice story I give it a 10/10.
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The story isn't something that hasn't been done before, but it's really entertaining, and there were more fantasy elements than I initally expected. I think the pace was perfect, not too fast and not too slow, so you can get to know the characters but it never gets boring. That being said, I must warn you, it ends with a cliffhanger (season 2 starts in January).
The acting was pretty good too. I have never thought that Ayase Haruka was a really good actress, just an alright one. And I really didn't see her playing a credible action heroine. And yet, she really surprised me. She's great throughout the 4 episodes, and she has a very strong presence that makes for a great lead character. Most of the rest of actors were good too. I've always liked Higashide Masahiro a lot, and he's really good here. He's very funny and charismatic. Takashima Reiko was really funny too. Kimura Fumino is pretty good too, specially in the first episode. Kobayashi Kai is a bit annoying, and not the best of child actors, but I must admit the role was very difficult. Lastly, I won't say much about Fujiwara Tatsuya, because I've hated him for a long time, so I'm too biased (he overacts SO MUCH, it's incredibly annoying). Thank god he doesn't appear much.
The music was spectacular, it felt like listening to a movie soundtrack. Actually, most about this drama felt like a movie. All the technical aspectas were miles better than in the average j-drama. It's clear that they had a pretty big budget. The cinematography was great, and so were the costumes (even if a few of them were a bit ridiculous). The special effects were great, considering it's a J-drama (effects in j-movies aren't much better...). But mostly, I was shocked by how good the fight scenes were. They're the best fight scenes I've seen in a Japanese prodcution, drama or movie.
To sum up, I was pleasantly surprised by Seirei no Moribito in almost every way. I can't wait for the second season, even if there are still 8 months left. I guess in the meantime I'll have to watch the anime adaptation.
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If a plate of scrambled eggs wrote a screenplay, it would have written this.
You may or may not have fun watching this one. But you'll probably have fun talking about it in the comments.So many things don't really make sense. So. Many. Things. Where to even start.
You will be confronted on many levels by this drama. It begins with an ML who is supposed to be "almost 30".... being played by an actor who is 47. That is an 18 year age difference. Some say the ML is hot and manly. That is up to you to decide. But we can safely say there is something strange going on in his neck area, and his hair makes him look like an ancient chinese car salesman. Maybe that will bother you. Maybe it wont. Who knows.
Then you will be confronted by a 2ML who you will have to decide if you ship. Will you think he's Simpy McSimperson, an NPC with no real character of his own, who is annoying and stupid and serves no real purpose in the show? Or will you think he's sexylicious, and the FL's only real friend, and she's stupid for not running off with him to live a live of banditry in the woods? There is no telling, you'd just have to find out for yourself.
Then you will be confronted by the way the ML treats the FL. Is he manly and protective with reasons of his own for doing what he does? Or is he stockholming the FL and being a spineless passive aggressive douchebag? That's up to you to decide.
You will also be confronted by ML/FL kiss scenes. Will you think they are fiery and electric? Or will you think they are disturbing and strange. There is only one way to find out, and that's to see it for yourself.
And then... you will be confronted by plot holes. Lots of them. You could make a game out of it.... how many plot holes did YOU find? Five? Ten? Twelve? Winner gets bragging rights. You will likewise be confronted with a mind boggling amount of scheming and villainy. Sometimes you will not understand why a character did what they did or said what they said. Does anyone have the answers to clear your confusion? Perhaps. Or perhaps not.
I can say, the styling was really phoned-in and lo-effort. There were some scenes where I was looking at the dotted pattern along the wigline on ML closeups. I can also say that there is an abundance of overacting. It's not THAT bad, but it's there. Many actors and actresses on this drama were overacting to one degree or another. For some, it was just a hint of overacting, like the FL. For others on the supporting cast, the overacting was really quite much. And that's fine, I don't really mind that so much if other factors are present. But just so you know going in... this is less of an understated, subtle drama.... and more of a thrill-ride drama. I guess what you'd expect from 30-min episodes, really. Let's just say these performances aren't winning any awards, know what I'm sayin. It's meant more for fun, and not for serious viewing. If you go into this one very serious-minded.... you are going to have a BAD time. But if you go in to watch just for fun.... who knows what kind of time you'll have.
It's all mixed up. It's kind of mindless. Plot and logistics of things are pretty nebulous. Ending was kind of.... shall we say conversation-inspiring. Will you like it? Maybe. Or.... maybe not. I am reminded of a Blackadder quote by Lord Talbert Buxomley: "This drama talks like a plate of beans negotiating it's way out of a cow's digestive system." And I think that says it best, really.
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There are two HUGE reasons why this drama stood out so much in my mind:
1. The script - I don't mean the storyline, but rather the things that they say and the meaning behind WHAT they say. Personally, I jot down quotes of lines I like while I watch my dramas and I am 100% sure that "In Time with You" will be holding the record of Most-"Memorable Quotes" for a very, VERY long time.
2. The character setup (I'm not sure what it's actually supposed to be called, or if there is even a name for it.) - Out of all the dramas I've seen (not that I can be a fair judge of them all because I have not watched all the dramas in the world), not once do I ever remember seeing the lead-male act almost like the second-lead-male. Partway through, I started to really doubt whether Chen Bo Lin/Li Da Ren really WAS the lead-male, or if he was just some sort of secondary character. In all the other dramas that I've watched/can think of, the lead-female always ends up with the lead-male, and we (I) pretty much expect it to happen. But if she ends up with the second-lead-male instead, then it's almost considered a "sad ending".
So in my opinion, kudos to the actors and actresses for making the second-lead-male stand out so much that I just didn't know HOW it was going to end until it finally ended.
First off, the storyline. I would have to describe it as an in-depth look at a (seemingly) classic situation. Friends-turned-lovers, nothing special, right? But somehow, I felt that the way their whole relationship was portrayed was just simply...perfect.
While some might say that their "just friends" relationship dragged on for far too long, I actually felt that they were "practically lovers" to begin with. They had their “break-up” and “get-together” moments too, even if they were “just friends”. Seeing so much of their "friendship" for so long, I also feel like I got a taste of what it felt like to be Cheng You Qing - I'd always expect Li Da Ren to be there for her no matter what, being the "best friend" that he is.
So for me, even though I was hoping for change while watching from a third-person point of view (the way their friends and family members felt), their friendship was so solid that even I was convinced that there really WAS the possibility that nothing would ever change (the way Cheng You Qing and Li Da Ren felt).
In addition to their own 'big issue', there was just enough everyone-else-drama so that the whole drama wasn't "just about them", but also about work, family, etc.
As for the Acting/Cast - I was actually really REALLY impressed. For starters, the cast included newbie actors/actresses to play the roles of Ding Li Wei and Maggie, which were pretty big roles. Despite it being their first drama, their characters were portrayed very solidly and never once did I think "oh, they're just acting." I never got the impression that this was just another one of those “fake, jokester dramas”. Nope, this one was serious- serious all the way. Nothing, their words nor actions, were out of character, and I probably would've believed you if you'd told me that they've actually been acting for years. I think credit also goes to the director - from watching the "behind the scenes", I feel like he played a big part in getting their characters to come out as well.
There is one actress in particular that I must praise as well, and that is Ariel Lin. I must confess that I was never a real fan of Ariel Lin. Watching her in ISWAK, Love Contract, and Tokyo Juliet, I continuously got the impression that her characters were all the same - just simply, dumb when in love. While I'm sure it's not her fault because that's just how the script was written, I had always been under the impression that she was simply just suited for "childish roles", and I told myself that I wouldn't be too surprised if she turned out to be a childish character in this drama as well. Sure, she had her cool and composed "I don't need love" moments in Love Contract, and her serious work-focused moments in Tokyo Juliet, but once she 'fell for the guy', all of that was kicked aside and tossed down the drain, and all the serious-attitude that she’d worked to build up before was just…gone. She'd just be in silly “lovey-dovey mode” for the rest of the drama. Up until I watched "In Time with You", that was my impression of Ariel Lin. (I don't mean to offend any Ariel Lin fans or anyone who is a fan of those dramas.) I was just so shocked, impressed, and GLAD all at the same time that I finally got to see her play a "mature" role. I loved being able to watch her act as an ALWAYS-work-focused, consistently hard-working, "I'll take on work and play all at the same time" kind of character. I'm glad that I got to see this "different side" of her - a mature side that was able to control her feelings all the time, regardless of whether she was with her boyfriend or not (minus the few zone-out moments she occasionally had, but come now, we all have SOME moments). Despite her previous dramas, she wasn't too-cute, too-dumb, or too-air-headed; she was mature and sophisticated the majority of the time, "broken down" when she needed to be, and just naturally relaxing during her chill-time with Li Da Ren. For anyone that may have had the same impression of Ariel Lin as I did before I watched this drama - I would recommend giving this drama a shot to see if your opinion of her might change.
The music itself was not necessarily "amazing" or "simply grand" in any way, but it was still nice. The most important part was that suitable songs were played in suitable situations. I also really liked the addition of Chen Bo Lin/Li Da Ren's own song - it really gave certain scenes a deeper "feel" at those critical moments.
While this drama seems really typical, I think...there's just something about it that can't really be described by just "words". It incorporates a lot of different aspects of just "life", namely friendship, work, love, marriage, family, justification of self, and probably others as well. But in a sense, it’s a story that just kind of shows “Life” – it might not be your life or my life exactly, but for me, it was still close enough to hit home.
-Please keep in mind that this review was all based on personal opinion.-
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Pride and Prejudice
The Red Sleeve refers to the official hanbok worn by the court ladies of the Joseon Dynasty, in which its sleeve cuff has been dyed crimson red. I’ve watched many sageuk dramas over the years but this is the one production in which I’ve truly taken the time to appreciate the beauty of this simple traditional Korean clothing, the hanbok. It comes in many iterations and colours in this drama that does justice to the appropriately named title.This drama is a “faction” sageuk (mixing facts and fiction) that heavily romanticizes the life story of King Jeongjo and Royal Noble Consort Uibin Seong, as well as their ensuing romance, through a narrative that spans a number of decades. Countless other real life historical figures are present in this drama but the events that transpire, including the depicted themes, are very much fictionalised.
The only MBC sageuk released this year that is directed by Jung Ji-in and Song Yeon-hwa, it is based on a screenplay written by Jung Hae Ri (The Emperor: Owner of the Mask) that is adapted from the 2017 novel, The Sleeve’s Red Cuff by Kang Mi-kang. This is a live-shoot production which began in May 2021 right through to 21 December 2021, with principal photography taking place entirely at the famous Yongin Daejanggeum Park. Initially planned for 16 episodes, an additional 17th episode was added due to overwhelming popularity reflected in the ratings spike during its run. Prolific composer Noh Hyeong Woo serves as music director.
In the recent 2021 MBC Drama Awards, The Red Sleeve took home a plethora of trophies including Top Excellence Awards for stars Lee Jun Ho and Lee Se Young, the Lifetime Achievement Award for Lee Deok Hwa, the Best Couple Award, the Best Supporting Actor Award for Jang Hye Jin, the Best New Actor award for Kang Hoon, and the Best Screenwriter Award.
What I Liked
The story. I won’t comment on the accuracy of the history or the presumably anachronistic nature of the storytelling and characterization (which is present in various forms in most, if not all, faction sageuk anyway). For the most part, I’ve enjoyed the many elements and themes incorporated in the story that makes the drama eventful, engaging and interesting. In addition to the usual court politics involving power struggles between different factions, there is a strong focus on the cultural background and role of the Joseon court ladies aka Gungnyeo (literally "palace women"), a Korean term referring to women waiting on the king and other royalty in traditional Korean society. I think the last time I’ve seen such similar emphasis was in Jewel in the Palace several decades ago.
Even the romance feels quite extraordinary - the depiction is ahead of the times because there is a profound feminist tone to the trajectory of the FL and the push-pull relationship dynamics of the leads. Most historical dramas reflect the sense and sensibilities of the setting which lean heavily on repressive hierarchical structures and Confucian teachings, particularly on women. Here, the FL draws many parallels to Jane Austen's Elizabeth Bennet. Independent, resilient, cool-headed and sensible.
The production values. This drama is one of the most beautiful sageuk productions I’ve seen in a while. There isn’t much to complain about because every technical aspect is very well executed and plain to see. The cinematic visuals, gorgeous cinematography that involves a variety of framing techniques to breathe life into the atmospherics. Praise of course goes to the art direction of the set designs and the beautiful costumes. Unsurprisingly the women outshine the men in terms of fashion. The action is few and far between but no less decent, with one major battle sequence occurring during the first half of the drama.
Although the drama starts off with lightheartedness, it eventually settles on a consistently more serious tone. I didn’t particularly enjoy the moments of levity which I found jarring when interspersed among the intense moments but fortunately they did not last very long. I think the dramatic tension is much better portrayed and credit goes to the cast for the delivery. My first time seeing Lee Jun Ho and what a performance from him as King Jeongjo aka Yi San. He basically grows into the role where the momentum progressively builds as the story unfolds. He imbues the character with a remarkable duality with such finesse which gloriously reflects the range that he actually possesses. I honestly thought at times he steals the limelight from Lee Se Young who plays the FL and love interest Sung Deok Im. That’s not to say she underperforms because her role which reflects the uncharacteristic modernity in the characterisation is richly layered and complex in and of itself. However, IMHO, her interpretation isn't at the same level as Lee Jun Ho's nuanced articulation, especially in the second half of the drama.
The SML Hong Deok Ro is played by Kang Hoon. Among all the characters depicted, this is quite literally the most theatrical. I really have to applaud his performance because it well and truly matches the dynamic character trajectory as it is written into the sequence of events in the plot. One bit of astonishing cliche lies in his character developing facial hair, in part to manifest the passage of time but mainly to afford him a more nefarious facade. In contrast the ML remains clean shaven, young and handsome amidst the transformation around him. Quite the juxtaposition there.
Veteran actors make up the bulk of the supporting cast to deliver some of the more dramatically compelling moments. I have truly relished the performances of Lee Deok Hwa, Park Ji Young, Kang Mal Geum, Jang Hye Jin and Jang Hee Jin, despite their limited amount of screen time. Lee Deok Hwa certainly demonstrates the gravitas for the role of King Yeongjo while the others provide the perfect display of women with substance and mettle.
The music in The Red Sleeve is exceptional, a key aspect which most viewers should come to expect of a sageuk by now. The original score complements the entire production by subtly enhancing the ambience of many powerful scenes with its orchestral BGM. Likewise the soundtrack, featuring a total of nine original songs of which most are love ballads. My personal favourites are I Wish and Let Go of Your Hand.
Whee In (휘인) - I Wish (바라고 바라)
Ben (벤) - Star That Never Sleeps (잠들지 않는 별)
Jeong Sewoon (정세운) - You Are My Miracle (네가 나의 기적인 것처럼)
Minhyun (민현) - I'll Spend All My Days With You (모든 날을 너와 함께 할게)
Shim Gyu Sun (Lucia)(심규선) - It's Beautiful At Last (비로소 아름다워)
Jeon Sang-geun (전상근) - I'll Take One Step Back (내가 한 걸음 뒤로 갈게)
XIA (준수) - I'm Still (네가 불어오는 이곳에서 난 여전히)
Lee Seon-hee (이선희) - Let Go of Your Hand (그대 손 놓아요)
Lia (ITZY 리아)- I'll Light It Up Like A Star (밝혀줄게 별처럼)
What I Liked Less
The plot is quite straightforward yet holds much potential, especially with the infusion of a huge dose of fictional elements such as the emergence of an underground sisterhood of court ladies. The political aspects involving the grandfather, King Yeongjo and other factions vying for power initially appear quite intriguing as well. However, as the story progresses, each of these fascinating arcs falls by the wayside rather too quickly.
I wanted to witness more of King Yeongjo’s infamous tyranny but he comes across as an endearing yet senile old man engaged in a repetitive and destructive cycle with his grandson, Yi San. Reproach, incarcerate, forgive, then release him, and this sequence repeats another three to four times. Not that I blame him entirely because Yi San continuously partakes in pointless subversive activities through the secret organisation, Deongdukhoe, that produces little to no meaningful accomplishments apart from sabotaging his own legitimacy as Crown Prince.
Both the ML and FL share a repetitive cycle laden with angst of their own as well, which involves Yi San frequently expressing his love for Deok Im only to have his affections rejected time and again. The FL’s mental fortitude appears to be in a constant state of flux judging from her reactions each time she rebuffs Yi San’s advances. In any case, I understand and empathise with her wish for independence from regal constrictions and the vagaries that would no doubt ensue if married to the King. This miserable state of affairs takes up quite a fair portion of the later half of the drama.
Final Thoughts
The Red Sleeve is an enthralling watch mainly for the quality of its production and technical execution. The visuals are an absolute feast for the eyes while the performances of the extensive cast is quite exceptional. Despite my issues with aspects of the narrative, there is no doubting the intensity of the chemistry between the two leads. The bittersweet ending is somewhat consistent with historical records, although personally I wished that the story would have ended at an earlier and more positive juncture. All things considered, the pros outweigh the cons and if you are in the mood for a well-produced and well-acted romance sageuk, then this might be worth checking out.
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This was a cute simple one
So, the FL is determined to prove that ML is a merman that saved her but, of course, ML doesn't know what she's talking about. He's an orphan that's trying to find out answers, but that still doesn't stop FL from trying to discover ML's secret.The first kiss is episode 7 all because ML read her notes and wanted to get FL's satisfaction that he wasn't a merman. Of course, the SML also has loved the FL for a while now, but he gets turned down (of course), but SML at least gets to fall in love with SFL (which, is adorable).
ML & FL doesn't officially go out until Ep. 14. She did confess her love to him in ep 11 but was turned down because he wasn't ready to open his heart again after what happened to his first girl. He didn't want to make another mistake.
Each of the characters has their own personal issues that they deal with and of course, you have other people that come to the resort that have their issues that get resolved in the end.
To me, I know some didn't enjoy it, but I was actually enjoying it. Though, FL hasn't changed much from when she did "Miss in Kiss". Her hair is mostly in a side ponytail, but she was still cute and "annoying" as ever. Haha
Also, expect LOTS of half-naked guys. I didn't mind it so much. I just wished they didn't wear speedos. I preferred them in the swim trunks. And I think that really bothered me the most was that it was 1 girl and 4 guys for the swim rescue team. I would have liked to have given her another female friend, but, SFL was good for me. She wasn't AS clingy as most second females would be. Once she knew that ML liked FL, he accepted her defeat.
P.S. - In the end, we'll never know if ML is REALLY a merman since whenever he got wet, he never once became a merman, so we'll never know who saved FL in the beginning, but overall, it was a cute drama and I enjoyed it. It was a nice cleanser after watching "Sweet First Love".
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Having spent the better part of the series sobbing, I will attest that this is a tear-jerker. Stories that deal with severe illnesses often are. Refreshingly Good Life avoids becoming maudlin and though tears well up, they don’t always spring from tragedy. I found myself most moved by the powerful relationship between Waku and his father; the change love brought into their lives at the most crucial hour…this is more important than anything else. The short length of the drama guarantees a sharp focus on their journey. There’s just no time for romantic detours or melodramatic spoons dipped in to stir extra conflict. (As a side note, Waku’s adorable yet illuminating narrations were fantastic; their presence bolstered the emotional atmosphere of the plot exponentially.)
Only two performers stand memorable, which works since Good Life focused almost solely on their characters. Sorimachi Takashi tugs insistently at the heartstrings as Daichi Sawamoto, the “papa” of the title. His character brought to mind the imagery of a trembling pillar; Daichi tries to take everything on his own shoulders, never letting anyone else see his deep vulnerability. As a result, he appears strong but aloof – blindly unable to understand that his life is lacking. Transformation from such a person into the gentle and loving father whose heart finally opens is conveyed compellingly, both by the writing and Sorimachi. On the other hand we have Kabe Amon, who played impressively as Waku. Not only is he super cute, he’s startlingly believable. It was easy to forget Kabe is healthy in real life and that Sorimachi is not actually his father (despite their immense chemistry).
Music is fittingly simple and nostalgic. Unfortunately, the soundtrack soon feels repetitive by the halfway point. A specific piano melody manages to stick in my mind, as well as the tender “Mata Ashita,” by JUJU.
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The difference
Ok as a fan of love 020 of course I need to watch this as a comparison. Thank God there was a kind hearted person who upload it with english sub.Ok. Let's do the comparison between this and love 020
What better:
1. The process of Onoda Asahi (OA) falling in love to Arisawa Ichika (AI) is better than Love 020. OA takes his time to know AI before deciding to be in a relationship with her. AI also more careful to OA, since of course he is stranger to her.
2. The friendships between AI and Ikemoto Umi (IU) is way better than the friendship between Bei Wei Wei & Er Xi in Love 020.
3. Sasahara Kengo (SK) is way better man than Cao Guang combine with Zhen Shao Xiang in Love 020. This year he is my second lead syndrome, he is way better for AI than OA.
4. At first i really afraid they make the story complicated by adding childhood friend for OA, but turn out Shibuya Satomi is really nice woman.
5. The story overall actually more make sense than Love 020, Love 020 sometimes quite too perfect, but however i'll always have prejudice about that drama.
Ok now the bad part or the one that really ruin the story for me:
! Warning spoiler alert!
1. They break AI and OA apart!!! :( This one the one that make lower my score. I really hate this kind of break up. Break up just because he wants to protect her...!!! In their case no need for break up, he needs to stay by her side instead. I really love how Xiao Nai & his gang clean up the messed in the internet, they just clean the site, hahaha... Just like Bei Wei Wei friend said, that's how them as computer student take care of the problems. In here OA just like SK said, he can't protect his girl.
2. OA himself not so much a charm as Xiao Nai. I can't sense his charisma, i don't get what makes him so special.
3. The CGI in the game really bad & quite hurt my eyes :(. We can see they really have quite low budget.
Overall i really happy i can watch this adaptation drama. :)
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Good enough.
This is a comedy will make you cry as hard as it will make you laugh. It is a very personal, very moving tribute of comedian, actress, screenwriter and first time director Jia Ling to her mom, Li Huanying - factory worker, volleyball player and first person in Xiangyang to own a TV.I tried to watch this shortly after its release but dropped it within ten minutes because I was put off by the fact that Jia Ling chose to play herself, the then 18-year old Jia Xiaoling. In her late 30s at the time, she just doesn't look the part of a teenager so I abandoned it before I realised that nonetheless, she feels the part because she IS the part; every emotion is heartfelt down to the tiniest nuance. And of course she is who she is today because she is a funny lady, very, very funny with excellent comedic timing. Nonetheless, the criticism that the main role is possibly mis-cast is a valid one. There are some rough edges to the overall production that are very acceptable considering this is her directorial debut.
The main premise is simple, based on universally relatable mother daughter themes. Like many, I can vividly remember being 18, feeling awkward, unaccomplished, insecure and possibly a factory production run error of my lovely and vivacious mother. We have all been Jia Xiaoling, wanting to make our mom's proud, longing desperately to be worthy while dead set certain we are not. A freak of nature transports Xiaoling back to the past, where she meets and befriends her young mom and has a chance to be a part of all the most important events in her life. She hilariously and movingly tries to change her life for the better even if it means her mom ends up with someone else to hopefully have a more worthy daughter.. And in the process she movingly comes to the realisation that she was always already good enough. These are tried and true mother daughter themes that may seem to have been beaten to death but Hi Mom still manages to articulate a fresh, creative take and deliver a moving, heartfelt twist to this tale as old as time.
This is not perfect but I can happily give it a 9.0 and call it a masterpiece because it is an unforgettable movie that will make you call your mom or hug her if you are lucky enough to be next to her. After all, this humble, low budget production is only the highest-grossing movie of 2021, the second highest-grossing non-English film of all time, and the highest-grossing film by a solo female director. If like me, you haven't seen your mom for over a year due to covid, you may want to wait to watch this. But you must definitely watch it.
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why? just why?
the first act is enjoyable, a decent story, some significant hole in the plot but I thought, "eh, whatever, its a short drama, it seems like fun". the second act sloooooooowwwwssss down and keeps you waiting for any character development and plot beyond the leads, "okay, not the best show, but it's not trying to be so hopefully the ending will wrap it up nicely and this will be a classic mid tier show". WRONG! SO F****** WRONG! the third act is where the show totally falls off. you only continue watching just to see the moms domestic abuse and criminal activity come out of the shadows, but it's only one 80 second scene, why? or maybe you were sticking around waiting for more conflict resolution with the older sister and the leads all together, wrong, there is none. instead we get a BS, 'oh, everything is resolved with our respective careers, we both love each other, neither holds blame or guilt for the accident as children, we acknowledged dead dads blessing from heaven, we have both healed, evil mom is taken care off, but oh wait, we can never be together, why?, cuz my older alcoholic sister is throwing a 30 year tantrum and neglecting her child. OH WAIT!!! JK! one year time skip, sister is magically healed of all trauma, attachment, mental instability, is a perfect mom, and a highly accomplished artist beaming with joy[all with ZERO explanation, screen time, plot, not-a]........soooooooooo, it's okay, now you two can wistfully meet again in a field of flowers and give each other blank stares.I thought the actors, production, and editing teams did a pretty good job. the writing and directing is Trash. for once a k-drama doesnt have 16 episodes with endless drag on time, a blessing to be able to write and direct a nice, fun, emotional shorter story that is satisfying and rounds off in the end; they missed the opportunity. it's like this drama was originally written for 12-14 episodes and in the middle of filming episode 6 they got cut to 8 episodes, and said "F***, we'll wing it and force it closed".
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1"The winner's desire becomes The Great Cause"
After waiting for years for Six Flying Dragons to be available to watch legally in my region, I was finally able to see this highly recommended drama. Like its characters, I found it to be entertaining, if flawed. Because the story follows historical characters, a few of my comments may be spoilerish for some, though I don’t spoil who makes it out alive and who doesn’t or other pertinent spoilers.What worked for me: The acting was strong with a few exceptions. The music, sets, costumes, fight choreography, and scenery were on point. The characters, even the heroic ones, were flawed and showed the conflicts of the time. Unlike some historicals, the writers incorporated women into the story.
What didn’t work for me: There was a lot of repetition and way too many Very Important Speeches. A VIS is when the character’s eyes become dewy, the camera moves in, the dramatic music is cued, and the spittle flies. Used judiciously, they are rousing. Using them several times an episode is exhausting and diminishes their impact. One scene had not one, not two, but three VISs back-to-back! Massive exposition dumps were often incorporated in these or speeches were largely repeated. Lastly, by the halfway point I was already suffering from political intrigue fatigue. Some of the adversaries were just not compelling enough all while Yi Seong Gye was dragging his feet through mud trying to avoid his destiny. Make up your mind, man!
Six Flying Dragons was stretching things. There were two dragons and several geckos. (I posted the original poem Six Flying Dragons at the end of this review referring to Bang Won and his familial predecessors. My dragon/gecko critiques are in reference to the movie poster and inferences. )
Dragon One-Yi Bang Won is one of those controversial characters from history. He made improvements to the country but will leave you wondering if the ends justified the means. Women also lost out when they were forced into Confucian roles in the new Joseon society. Yoo Ah In gave a solid performance as the emotionally complex Bang Won, the man ever struggling with the angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other. I wasn’t invested in the romance and was disappointed they didn’t explore his marriage more. He had 12 children with his intelligent and politically savvy wife which was never touched on.
Dragon Two-Kim Myung Min was given free reign to chew the scenery as the revolutionary leader Sam Bong Jung Do Jeon. I actually came to despise him as much as the “bad” guys because many of his methods were the same. Does the person being tortured or murdered care if the leader giving the orders has idealistic plans for the country? He had no problem winding Bang Won up and pointing him like a loaded crossbow at people that needed to be dealt with while ostensibly keeping his hands clean and leaving BW to suffer the consequences. His "idealistic" country completely left out human nature and was bound for failure, even from his own actions. He didn’t want a powerful royal family but yet took all the relevant power for himself, altruistically, of course.
Cute Gecko Who Reads-I wasn’t crazy about the female lead but she was the avatar for the “common” people or peasants. Not the slaves mind you, because the peasants looked down on the slaves whom they had much more in common with than the nobles they were aligning themselves with. Boon Yi was a magical female lead who managed to look stunning while eking out a living as a peasant farmer and had time to teach herself how to read and write in a non-phonetic language. (Lee Bang Won’s son would make it much easier for people to read in the future.) Boon Yi was also financially and physically protected by numerous men, dimming our window into the commoners’ precarious world. But at least we could see how their hopes and dreams were alternately raised and dashed by both the bad guys and the “good” guys.
Cute Geckos with Swords- Lee Bang Ji and Mu Hyul. Both suffered from moral conflict about what they were doing but still managed to flash their swords when necessary. Byun Yo Han lifted his narrowly drawn Bang Ji off the page heroically through an emotional performance. Yoon Kyun Sang was saddled with the dim, sweet, if lethal, Mu Hyul. I’m not casting shade on our bodyguards, if there is a class of characters I have a special affinity for, it’s the ponytailed, loyal, sword wielding guards.
Tired, Wishy-Washy Gecko---Yi Seong Gye. The first king of Joseon was usually portrayed in reaction shots looking shocked and was continually reluctant to do anything. Sam Bong must have chosen him not only because he had an army but he knew he could lead him around.
Honorable mention gecko—the ever loyal bodyguard Jo Young Gyu.
Honorable mention enigmatic characters—Yoon Rang, and the twins Gil Tae Mi and Gil Seon Mi. Park Hyuk Kwon gave two powerful and very different performances, somehow managing to elicit a measure of sympathy for both.
Overall, Six Flying Dragons was an entertaining drama and well made. I would have rated it higher if I hadn’t found myself checking out emotionally and mentally as it went on. The repetition and slow crawl to the finish line had me wishing for someone to find the strength and ability to burn it all to the ground. Aside from the syrupy epilogue, I largely got my wish. Though my review is written over 10 years after the drama’s debut SFD holds up well, I could easily recommend it for people who enjoy historicals and like me, are just now finding it available to watch in their region.
This drama was the epitome of a problem that continues to plague us:
"The reason poverty exists is not that we can't feed the poor, it's that the rich cannot be satisfied." -Anonymous
13 January 2026
The original poem written in 1447 in Hangul:
Six Flying Dragons in Haedong (* the east of the Sea = Korea)
Everything they did was blessed by Heaven
Their pasts coincide with ancient sages.
A tree with deep roots,
Because the wind sways it not,
Blossoms Abundantly
And bears fruit.
The water from a deep spring,
Because a drought dries it not,
Becomes a stream
And flows to the sea.
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This review may contain spoilers
What a great and actually gay drama. As in, Tao Mo & Gu She are really in love and they get their happy ending - and that’s why the Chinese censorship cut the drama from 28 eps to 12, which is why the beginning is rather slow and the last ep very rushed. Because the censors might’ve cut the show but the director and everyone involved still scrambled and did their best to give the viewers the book ending, the fairy tale ending for Tao Mo and Gu She. And the very last scene is one of the most touching, softest and sweetest thing I’ve seen in a Cdrama yet, hands down!So yes, I can highly recommend the drama. There are scenes that drag a little - see above - but Tao Mo & Gu She and their love - their scenes in general, really, they range from touching to truly hilarious - are worth it. The actors’ chemistry is fantastic and they were in 3 dramas together already, twice playing lovers, so… Thumbs up from me, for sure!
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An Enjoyable Way to Pass the Time
A fun romance/crime drama that managed to keep me entertained for its 16-hour run time. It's certainly not groundbreaking but then again, it's not trying to be.- 3 Pros -
1) The Couple
A strong couple is exactly what this drama needed and, luckily, the writers and the cast managed to deliver just that. Whilst they keep things relatively lowkey (there's no sweeping grand gestures or slow-mo gazing into each other's eyes), their chemistry is palpable in every scene they're in and the relationship itself develops in a way that feels sweet, natural, and surprisingly mature. It is very much a relationship of equals and, by the end of the drama, you can tell that their love for each other is rooted in mutual trust and respect. I feel it's still quite rare to see a truly healthy relationship in the k-drama world so it's nice to see Newbie and Chief Ko develop one that feels so normal.
2) The OST
A good OST adds another layer of colour and emotion any scene it's in and there are certainly a few of those in Catch the Ghost. Particularly memorable are Woosung's (The Rose) Feel My Heart, Roh Tae Hyun's Highlight, and ABRY's Wanted. They're on the more upbeat side and they normally made me smile and start humming along when they started playing (Feel My Heart Being an exception).
3) The Representation
Whilst Catch the Ghost isn't a particularly deep drama, I do appreciate its decision to tackle subjects like ASD and dementia. I thought both strands were relatively well handled (given SK's reluctance to address issues like mental health and neurological conditions) and I liked that the characters were allowed to be more than just comic relief.
- 3 Cons -
1) The Plot
The plot itself is really not that strong, especially with regards to the main crime. The pacing is bizarre at points (some key information gets revealed way too early) and there are leaps of logic left, right, and centre. It feels like the writers are trying a little too hard to mislead the viewer in order to fit in more plot twists but, because a lot of them feel so contrived, they end up being a lot less impactful than indented.
2) The Subplots
There are certain subplots I feel didn't get enough screentime to make their inclusion worthwhile. The Police Commander and her daughter had a really interesting relationship and it would have been nice to have seen it grow and develop. As it was, it just felt rushed and out of place, wrapped up too quickly for it to have any real impact.
3) The (Sort of) Love Triangle
This one is purely personal but I do hate love triangles with a passion so I thought I may as well include it. I personally didn't feel it was necessary or that it added anything to the story (when do they ever though?) and all it ended up doing was make me like one character a little less than I would have otherwise.
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