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The first thing that I want to mention from the list of pros for this show is the fact that the two main leads enter into a relationship fairly early in the episodes. Which was an oddity, at least to me when I watched this show seeing as I’d only seen four dramas before Heartstrings. It was a breath of fresh air for me, I loved that the drama was about maintaining that relationship instead of fighting against having a relationship at all. They had to overcome a whole different slew of obstacles compared to the other dramas that I’d watched. I enjoyed that journey and thought it was very well done.
However, the chemistry between Shin Hye and Yong Hwa felt completely different than it did in You’re Beautiful. I’m not sure what it was, but it sure didn’t feel as passionate as it had in the previous drama. In You’re Beautiful they had some truly amazing interplay. You could see the connection between the characters and it really had me rooting for them, even though I knew already that I would be crushed since Yong Hwa was the second male lead. I just wish that the relationship didn’t feel as wooden in Heartstrings. For me there was definitely something missing.
The music for this drama was amazing. I had the songs stuck in my head for weeks even after I completed watching the drama. I’m sure it helped that the band members were actually playing their instruments. Not to mention Yong Hwa and Kang Min Hyuk are in CN Blue together. For me the music really stood out and I even bought the OST because I wanted to be able to listen to it whenever I wanted.
In my limited experience with drama-land the supporting cast has to really gel and standout on their own for a drama to work. The only two characters outside of the leads that really captured my heart was Min Hyuk’s portrayal of Yeo Joon Hee and Shin Hye’s grandfather. I cannot even properly convey how utterly adorable Joon Hee was throughout the entire show. I loved him, probably more than I liked Yong Hwa’s character. The grandfather cracked me up, he was hilarious. I also really enjoyed how he lived-breathed-ate traditional music and a traditional lifestyle. I found him wonderfully interesting. Beyond Joon Hee and the grandfather, the rest of the cast just didn’t really shine for me and that hurt the drama overall. I wanted to be pulling for the side stories, but more often than not I found myself plodding through all of that to get back to Joon Hee, the grandfather, or the two leads.
Towards the end of the drama I really felt that we finally got to see some character growth. For the majority of the show the characters were static in their maturity and personalities as they dealt with the obstacles which were put in their way. However, the last fifth of the series I enjoyed the way the story moved. Shin Hye’s character showed amazing maturity with how she handled the play and the drama surrounding being the lead actress. Both Yong Hwa and Shin Hye’s characters moved towards a natural progression of fulfilling their dreams. Even the supporting cast seemed to finally bloom and I enjoyed seeing how they evolved towards the end.
However, the ending of the show felt rushed. I’m not sure if it was cut down in the number of episodes, or that was how it was originally planned. But, things just felt a little choppy in the last two episodes. It made the character growth that had been occurring seem as if it weren’t important. I wish that they would have taken more time with the ending, perhaps another episode to have made it feel a little smoother.
Overall, I enjoyed the show. It was a feel good journey with some nice happy messages within it. I am glad that I watched it, but it just never quite captured me in the feels. Still it is a cute watch and a pretty story.
Noona's Rating
Overall: 7.6 (I rated this 4 stars on DramaFever.com)
Story/Writing: 8
Cast/Actors: 8
OST: 9
Sets/Costumes: 6
Feels: 7
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Piang Chai Khon Nee Mai Chai Poo Wised
19 people found this review helpful
If you want to try something melo with a of fairytal love story, this isn't the drama for you. But if you want to try something that makes you think about family matters, or how much you can do for you loved ones (this being good or bad things) or how much can jealousy transform your life .. you can certainly give it a try.
Music: I really like the main leads theme song , but it was the only one that I liked and remember.
Rewatch value: I'll watch it again, not twice a week, but as maraton next time.
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The acting is really good. I think Joo Ji Hoo does an excellent job of playing Shin. Kim Jeong Hoon also does a good job of playing Yul. I really felt sorry for his character by the end of the drama. Yoon Eun Hye plays Chaeg-Yung. I have seen everything she has been in except The Vineyard Man and she never lets me down. Song Ji Hyo didn’t really impress me. I don’t think the wide eyed stare for every emotion is acting. Chaeg-Yung’s family is great and gives much needed comic relief at times.
I like the music in this drama.
I rewatched it so I would say that you should at least watch it once. It really is a good drama. I just like dramas like Lie To Me where the romantic aspects are different.
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I don’t usually drop dramas but…
The premise of Doona! is very intriguing and attention catching. But upon actually watching it, the acting was stale and none of the characters were likeable. I got to episode 5 and it felt like the main leads had zero personality and even less chemistry. The two leads meet by chance and at their first meeting they have conflict which is never brought up again or moved on from. After that conflict Bae Suzy’s character becomes sort of a “pick me” following around the male lead. I wish her character had more of a personality because the story set the two up so well. by the time i reached episode five, I wasn’t rooting for a single character and I found myself bored trying to complete it.Was this review helpful to you?
Things I liked: There were no evil characters, just beautiful and flawed ones. I became invested in all of their stories and I felt that I was a part of their group. The slow cooked romance was beautifully done, even though sometimes the pacing might become frustrating for some. The acting was pretty good generally, especially Lego Li, who seemed so genuine in his reactions. The friendships were the heart of the show and I really like how they supported each other. The writers did a terrific job in linking very small details and events; there were a great deal of symbols spread throughout the show and I thought the characters had very deep and meaningful conversations most of the times. There was also a great deal of humour and I laughed out loud many times while I only cried about two times.
The music was also very good and it helped build up the 90's vibe.
Most of the time this drama was very realistic and I felt like it was a delicious slice of life.
Things I didn't like: Well, I really loved this drama, so there aren't many things I can complain about except...the ending. The ending wasn't bad, it was acceptable, but it left me wanting more. I read there will be a movie so hopefully we will get te answers we were looking for.
I recommed this drama to those of you who want to take a break from the usual crazy plots and who want to be pleasently surprised.
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Love Design Deserves More Hype!!
"Love Design" is honestly so underrated. It has the right amount of sweetness, humor, bickering and their chemistry is everything. The story begins with Aokbab returning from Japan to help her late mother's company, which is drowning in losses. Along the way, she crosses paths with Rin, and their first meeting is nothing short of chaotic- full of witty banter and misjudgments on both sides. But fate (and a bit of professional admiration) brings them back together when Aokbab decides to hire Rin after knowing a client she is trying to win over is a fan of Rin's design. As the series unfolds, layers of Aokbab's past comes to light, including how her senior and ex, Mind, once stole her design. Rin becomes her unexpected pillar of support- encouraging her to stand up for herself and even shielding her from Mind when things get mixed up.The chemistry between Aokbab and Rin is honestly one of my favorite parts of the show. Every scene they share feels alive- there's this effortless rhythm between them that makes even the smallest interactions entertaining. Their bickering strikes the perfect balance of humor and spark; it's playful without ever slipping into toxicity, and each exchange builds just the right kind of tension that keeps you glued to the screen. You can feel the gradual shift from rivalry to reluctant respect, and eventually, to something deeper and far more meaningful. Their relationship develops in such a natural, steady way that you can't help but root for them every step of the way.
It's rare to find a show that blends ambition, emotional growth, and romance this seamlessly, but this one nails it. The professional setting doesn't just serve as a backdrop- it's woven into the characters personal journeys, showing how passion, creativity, and love can all coexist. The storytelling feels grounded, and the emotional beats hit just the right note without being over the top. It's refreshing to watch a romance where both leads are strong in their own right, yet still find comfort and balance in each other. Also, I love the little pop in edits like those heart emojis, exclamation marks, blush. It's cute.
Highly Recommended!!
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There Is A Plot!
I've seen a lot of criticism of My Safe Zone's plot; mainly, viewers saying that there isn't one, which I disagree with. If you're paying attention, the series tells us precisely what it is. Jane is Alin's safe zone, and the series is constructed around that single fact.What I do agree with is that things moved too quickly. Jane and Alin were put into so many scenarios that we barely had time to recover from the last mishap in their relationship. This threw the series's pacing off. My Safe Zone could have benefited from either more episodes or fewer plot points to keep the story grounded and give the more significant points more time to be explored.
The true gem of My Safe Zone is the chemistry between Lena and Miu; no one can top what they gave us in My Safe Zone. And I'm not referring to the intimate scenes or their great acting performances. They have a give-and-take that I'm sure stems from their longtime friendship, which really gives life and sincerity to Jane and Alin's relationship. I really want to give props to the director for not stifling natural chemistry.
I'm looking forward to their next series, where hopefully they are given a great script with roles that suit them and their abilities.
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I’m not saying it was a bad drama—at least, not in the sense that I did not enjoy it because I feel like it was worth my time. However, enjoyment aside, the writing and directing were really a mess. At its heart, Devilish Joy had some great characters and I think that’s what ultimately made it so watchable but the story line itself felt…immature. It was seasoned with a plethora of cliché (CLICHÉ!!!) mishaps and coincidences. My favorite phrase to mutter while watching this was “How~ convenient~.” To be honest I think it ultimately did not accomplish what its premise set it out to do (ie answer the question: “Could you fall in love with someone you forget every morning?”). They did not play on the amnesia plot device quite like I expected them to and that was a little disappointing because it was too unrealistic and kind of defeated the purpose (at least until the last episode, where it was played out much more how I expected the whole drama to have been).
It is cute and it is sweet. There are so…many…kisses (yey)! However, while I’ve seen some people raving about the chemistry in this, I just didn’t feel it. It’s not that Choi Jin Hyuk and Song Ha Yoon had no chemistry at all, I just didn’t think it was anything special (apart from the first episode, they never really made my heart race or anything). I’m not going to lie though and say I did not fully enjoy every second we got to see Choi Jin Hyuk in all his tall, deep-voiced glory (swooning a little).
Overall this was a relatively easy watch and surprisingly “breezy” given the topic at hand. I would recommend it if you’re in the mood for a little melodrama and a lot of romance.
Warning: the gum-smacking courtesy of our resident baddie is rage-inducing and capable of awakening dark thoughts you did not know you were capable of. Keep the sound on during his scenes with caution.
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1This review may contain spoilers
Very disappointed
This series should’ve just been called Chan Yeong in class 2 and it’s nothing more than an adaption in name and characters ; Heesu and Seung Won got so little time to develop they’re relationship and feelings for each other and while understand that we aren’t gonna get any kissing scene (the rating plus Ahn Ji Ho was still a minor at the time of filming) the real crimes were the terrible writing, pacing, straight washed scenes taking over, the massive amounts of time the tennis scenes took over, the massive amounts of misunderstandings/miscommunications, and the fact that they’re confessions to each other is sidelined to the last ten mins of the finale episode.Don’t even try to defend this show the only thing that helped it was the actor’s performances but even then so much wasted time and potential
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I want to go through that feeling again and again and again.
I feel like this drama numbed me from the world. Yes, that’s the expression. My head, my brain, all become numb, and time stops when I watch it.One of a kind. I can’t believe it’s over. I am crying because I will miss them. I am the fangirl Baek Da Hye is here.
This show is recommended for non-diabetics. It may contain too much sugar sometimes.
Some may consider the story plain. But the execution was very good. Something that was consistent in the drama: Warmth.
The drama is so pretty and lovely!! ㅠㅠ
All pairings looked good together. Everyone’s chemistry is so good, couples and non-couples. Amazing cast. Very nice drama. I loved every moment. I never liked any ‘famous stars’ portrayals in drama but Tae Sung is the best (can’t believe it is the same too flowery, cheesy Oh Nam Joo from Extraordinary You). Jung Yeol-i is the cutest. And “Yuuuuuuuu Naaaa -yaaa” is one of my favourite lines. Ki-ppeum was a great friend. Han Byeol was the loveliest. Every single character is something amazing. The noteworthy lovely cute moments are uncountable.
Every scene ensured me of how good the directing is. Watching it felt soft.
The story is precious. The meaning behind it is beautiful. It is very informative. I laughed out loud so many times. And I sympathized so much with them. The writing was really clever at times. It was alive.
I don’t deny that the first 7 episodes were a 🌟☆ starry ☆ 🦋 butterfly dream ‿︵εϊз . Those 7 episodes pulled me hard. And after that it because closer to regular kdrama. The drama became more about events and less about characters, but it was still lovely and meaningful. I was expecting more angst in the beginning; that was my only complain. But then it picked up again. The end episodes made up for it. It swiped me off me feet again. Finally, it closed with the vibe it started off with; the best way. What a perfect way to end the drama.
I forget how good this drama manages to make me feel. Then I start an episode, the numbing starts. It makes me feel something new every time.
The music was just good enough to give you drama feels. The ost slowly infiltrated me. One song sounded noisy at first, but it took its effect on me. And in another song the singers' voices resonated. When the drama ended, I cried listening to it because I didn’t want to leave.
Honestly, I was hesitant about the cast when it was announced, but I was sold for their visuals in the promo photoshoot. That manicure picture. It screamed chemistry. They were visually perfect for each other.
And beginning from the first episode, I could feel the not-yet-tangible, in-the-drama-air chemistry. It was already amazing and very entertaining! The directing was so good at showing invisible things. I had a feeling I would love their dynamics. By the second episode I was already in love (with their relationship).
Watching it, I experienced so many sweet feelings. Warmth took over my body from head to toe. After binging a few episodes my face was burning hot and felt red from the feelings simmering in my stomach, and from the pumps of blood my heart fired. I wanted to stop but I couldn’t allow the feeling to go. I woke up with music pieces playing, and their voices talking in my head. Their energy took an effect on me. I was becoming light and bubbly like Tae Sung and Han Byeol. They are holding my heart currently
I JUST LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT IT. And I love how it feels like romance dramas from around 2017. I guess that’s even more why I was pulled.
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Story: There isn't really an exciting plot so if that’s what your looking for don’t even bother. Instead, you’ll find a realistic portrayal of what couples in different stages of their relationship go through ie. engagement/planning wedding, marriage on the rocks/divorce, long term relationship/commitment problems. I loved the ending so much because each couple got their ending that suited them (not everyone reconciles or marries).
Acting/Cast: If this wasn't casted the way it was, I don’t think I would have been as obsessed with this show. All the actors (Main & supporting) portrayed their roles perfectly making their character seem like they could be a real person living out their situations. There are some characters that might seem annoying like the girls’ mom and JSM’s character but if you come to accept who they are you’ll find them likable in their own way. The thing that made the casting so perfect is the chemistry. The chemistry between the all the families was perfect, each family felt like they were related in real life, not just acting. Each couple had amazing chemistry that made you root for them. There are so many characters in this drama and I loved each one because even smaller characters got their time to shine. Oh and what makes them so interesting is most of the characters in this drama are flawed like you wont believe which is something you don’t see in Korean dramas.
Music: Not anything to get excited over but it did fit the drama well.
Rewatch: I already want to watch this again because I miss the characters and also the pacing is so well done its easy to rewatch over and over again.
Overall Can We Get Married is one of those realistic dramas with flawed but interesting characters that will make you root for them.
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Secret is not your typical drama. It's very dark sometimes and these characters are dark as well too. None of these characters are perfect and have battles to face with some of the decisions they decide to make. So if your expecting a drama with a whole bunch of cutsy mushy romance then this might not be for you. Not saying there isn't any romance at all. The main couple has a great chemistry that will make you swoon.
I also loved the questions that this drama posed. Is it okay to sacrifice yourself for the one you love? Is love more important than family? How far should you go for love? Should you sacrifice your own happiness for someone else? And by the end of the drama I think each of these questions were answered very well. Which makes me love the drama ten times more.
The cast is amazing. I remember seeing Ji Sung on Protect The Boss as the goofy and immature rich son but to see him portray Min Hyuk was amazing. Ji Sung is great and now has made his way into my top actors list. I think he brought this character to life and had an amazing chemistry with Hwang Jung Eum. I didn't know what to expect from her thinking about the role she played in Full House Take 2 but she's really a great actress and knows exactly how to pull emotions from her viewers. They weren't the only great ones in the drama either. Bae Soo Bin and Lee Da Hee were too. Bae Soo Bin takes on the role as Ahn Do Hoon who has spiraled out of control and really becomes the definition of someone who isn't human anymore. He really does a great job! I can't wait to see more from each of these people.
The cast is amazing but I think one of the greatest things about this show is the development of each character. They might have not become a better person but each character developed into someone different from who they are. Each character changed and it was amazing to watch.
No, this drama isn't perfect. I do think the last episode was a tad bit rushed but this drama was so good that I thought it very much deserved a 10. But taking my personal satisfaction aside I gave it a 9 on here because I wanted to be honest. But taking some of those little problems away it's still very much a great drama.
I never pay much attention to OSTs but this one is really good and I ended up downloading the music as well. It always went perfect with every scene and found myself singing along.
This drama took me on a roller coaster ride and I loved every minute of it. It's very addictive and the perfect drama to marathon. As you you can see I said amazing a least five times so it must be amazing. So if you're looking for something like this then this is the perfect drama for you.
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Dream A 40 Year Dream
Only watched this for Xiao Zhan as I'm not a fan of heavy propaganda dramas usually from any country. I also have seen both LQ and LRL in other dramas and knew they were good actors and could handle pretty much any role. When I do these reviews, it's always from not just an audience member standpoint, but also as a writer/author. So I am impartial to everyone and everything. I don't like the new title of the drama so to me it's always been "Where Dreams Began" and here XZ aka XCS dreamed a 40 year dream.Pros: This series had a great flowing storyline where you didn't have any filler feeling episodes except for maybe the final 2. Favorite characters were tied with the leads; XCS and TXM or LQ. But at the same time they were also in the cons which I'll explain below. XCS was a man who unwaveringly followed his ideals even when more experienced in life people told him that his ideals would make him lose and regret those who felt inferior to him. After he overcame his physical disability post war, he was even stronger mentally. TXM was the epitome of quiet strength. She was his rock, his anchor even when they weren't yet together, before he realized any of it. Women like her are incredibly inspirational. Not only did she push him but herself.
Many people didn't like YGH and HHL due to their selfishness and cowardice but I did because they were the two morally gray ones in this story. Characters can't just be black or white, they need layers, to be able to evolve in whichever direction. We wouldn't necessarily want them in our lives but as characters on the screen, they were fascinating. The rest of the crew of QT, YQ, YF, DL, Amao, the other guy whose name I don't recall, plus certain parents, uncle Dong were all very awesome characters and all of the actors whether I found their characters necessary or should have left sooner, did a superb job. CHJ was actually the best antagonist out of the batch because you saw his corruption over time as opposed to Heizi, who though I liked as a greedy, money hungry character was too repetitive in his crimes and just came off as downright stupid.
Sets, costumes, OSTs, accents all of that was appropriate for whichever time period you were in.
Cons: Though they were trying to portray the 70s and onward over there as best as they could, much was unrealistic. Though I loved both XCS and TXM, as someone else mentioned in the comments, these characters don't exist in real life. They are too perfect in their ideology and no one on earth is flawless. They came off as their own versions of Gandhi and Mother Teresa. Trying to portray that in a slice of life type of story, essentially takes away from that slice of life. LSY was just there for too long and got away with too much. The actor did well but to have him constantly let go or wriggle out of the law while other people like QT who did legal work lost everything wasn't fair. It made the law look useless especially in such a high propaganda filled series. Those two just didn't jive. The constant nepotism became nauseating.
I will speak about the propaganda; I knew what I was going to watch but what--as someone who was also born in a socialist/communist country which no longer exists so I actually know what I'm talking about--kept throwing me off and having the scenes take a hit, was not that it was used but WHERE. In all of the military, government related and whatnot scenes, totally understandable. But when the characters are just having fun together shooting the breeze or being romantic with their significant others and the speechifying starts, it is eye roll worthy because literally no one did that ever in any country. When there are family gatherings or two neighbors meet up or something everyday, propaganda speeches do not happen. You'd sooner ask about a child's health or if they went to the movies, so that's where it was way too much.
The fact that there were multiple time jumps and we never knew where we were. It could be anywhere from a few months to a few years. One viewer had to research and write out a timeline in the comments. People shouldn't have to do that when watching a series; a small note on the screen would have sufficed. The SARS epidemic in the final two episodes was also unnecessary. They could've wrapped it all up nicely around the CNY episodes because otherwise it felt like this plot was just chucked in there last minute and was quite rushed.
Would I recommend it? If you are a fan of any of the actors and like a nice flowing storyline until that end. I think all of the actors did a superb job; very pleased with that.
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