This review may contain spoilers
There was a point during Misty's run that it was shaping up to be 2018's Forest of Secrets. An intelligent script, excellent acting, striking cinematography and a haunting, beautiful score all combine into a compelling piece of television about a powerful woman trying to attain her goals in a hyper-patriarchal society: all the while rocking awesome pantsuits and never letting the cracks in her life show in public. Dark, mature and atmospheric with a powerful female lead, this show was amazing until the inevitable Episode 15 slide in quality that condemns it to being ALMOST the best show of 2018.Go Hye Ran has hit the glass ceiling but instead of quietly disappearing like older women are supposed to, she refuses to go anywhere. Fighting constantly against corruption, discrimination and vicious gossip, she has become cold, driven and untrusting but is fuelled by a strong desire for justice and a determination to win against all odds.
Kim Nam Joo puts in an exceptional performance as the complex, brilliant and uncompromising Go Hye Ran who is charged for a murder and represented by her lawyer husband, Kang Tae Wook (Ji Jin Hee). The rest of the cast also do superb jobs. Full of timeline holes, unreliable narrators, unlikeable characters and deliberate misdirections, this show will have you second-guessing everything you think you know about the characters to the last scene.
Which brings us to the ending...
Like a lot of people, I was very dissatisfied with the ending and found the finale overly-long and self-indulgent. As can sometimes happen, what I thought was the main point of the drama and what the writers thought was the main point of the drama diverged wildly around the end of episode 14. As such, I found the last episodes frustrating, watching time tick down to a finale that I knew wasn't going to contain resolution to the plotlines I cared about. The ending in particular I found depressing in a way the rest of the drama - however moody and dark - wasn't.
Textually, in terms of the shows themes, I personally found the ending contradicted what (I thought) was the point of the show as a whole. In that respect, it negated to an extent the show's message. It is this - the negation of the show's underlying point and a resolution that is ultimately depressing - that makes the ending so bad.
However despite my frustration with the ending, this was a very good piece of television overall.
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Amazing Drama to Start the 2024!
This is it! My most amazing drama to start the New Year of 2024!Much has been written about this engaging drama that oftentimes, I am always at loss on what to write here.
People are giving their reviews on details; that I am always impressed of their skills in knowing everything about this drama.
As I still quite knew to C-dramas, I can only write a brief review here.
"Different Princess" is one such show which I am totally engaged in; this is my first time to watch a show on the so-called "transmigration" and I find it as an interesting story line; that I even want the episodes to be longer than episodes 36.
--- Song Yiren as Hua Qing Ge and Ding Zeren as Ji Chu; the leading leads nailed their role perfectly as much as the supporting casts. I give also full credit and to the crews, notably the director and the scriptwriter of this show.
--- As it is always said: "we came to watch a drama to be entertained and to enjoy it"; and this drama never disappoint me; it give us full enjoyment to watch and be totally engrossed on it.
We need Season 2 of this Lovable Drama!
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Gladly, this isn't the case here. This drama is sweet and not over dramatic. Some might find the push and pull game boring and think it's dragging too long but there is a reason for that. The cast are good and have chemistry. Maybe the best thing for me in this drama is the lead's smile. It's melting me.
In conclusion, the drama is not bad. It won't be the BEST drama you have even seen but it's sweet and if you have time, give it a try.
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This review may contain spoilers
Many comments I've read said if I wanted to watch something similar to Le Coup De Foudre I should watch this and I did. The trailer kinda fooled me and got me hooked into thinking that this could help me stop binge watching Le Coup.It's not a total disappointment but I found some loopholes. I think this should have been a mini series or a drama special with 2 episodes.
The leads were fine with their roles. I liked the nerdy ML at first but found it a bit creepy that he planned her life so he could fit in. In reality that's creepy but in the movie world I guess you'd find it endearing.
The confession scene was like a summary of how he plotted to fit in her life somehow and maybe for her to like him too. I can't blame him though. The FL was endearingily cheerful a kinda person you'd like to be friends with.
The classmate from high school is kinda an ass I mean she doesn't like the ML but since she thinks he likes her he can't like anyone else and when he does she starts to act like she likes her too.
I wish the senior who flirted with the FL had more scenes I think it would have added some jazz to the story.
Childhood sweetheart themed stories is a cup of tea I like but this movie is a so so. I would definitely watch it again just to feast my eyes on the ML whose really handsome after the makeover and the adorkably cute FL who lives her life to the fullest righteously.
I have to say this does not compare to Le Coup but if you want to watch something lighthearted and put a smile on your face this movie is worth watching.
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To me, this is one of those underrated shows that seems to pass under everyone's radar. Nobody really seems to know this drama is out there and its a shame because it is really good and adorable in its own way.
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After 17 episodes, Mo Li has completely captured my heart.
Every new episode leaves me wanting more, and the wait between episodes feels unbearably long. This is the kind of drama that makes you wish the entire series was already released so you could spend a whole weekend watching it from beginning to end without stopping.Bai Lu is simply breathtaking as Ye Li. She brings elegance, intelligence, vulnerability, and quiet strength to every scene. Her performance feels effortless, yet every emotion reaches the audience. Sometimes all she needs is a single look, and you can feel an entire storm of emotions behind her eyes. Ye Li is one of those characters who stays with you long after the episode ends.
What I appreciate most is how mature and beautifully written the relationship between the leads is. Instead of relying on childish misunderstandings, unnecessary jealousy, or frustrating love triangles, the story allows their bond to develop naturally. Their interactions are gentle, respectful, and filled with unspoken understanding. Every glance, every act of care, and every quiet moment together feels meaningful and genuine.
The OSTs deserve endless praise. Every song feels like it was written specifically for the soul of this drama. The music perfectly captures the longing, tenderness, heartbreak, and hope woven throughout the story. Not a single track feels out of place, and together they create an unforgettable emotional atmosphere.
Visually, Mo Li is absolutely stunning. The costumes are exquisite, elegant, and rich in detail, perfectly reflecting each character’s personality and status. The sets and scenery are equally breathtaking, creating a world that feels both grand and intimate. Every frame looks like a painting.
The director also deserves tremendous credit. The pacing, emotional storytelling, cinematography, and attention to detail make every episode feel immersive. The drama knows when to be quiet, when to be heartbreaking, and when to let emotions speak louder than words.
Seventeen episodes in, and I am more invested than ever. Mo Li is not just a beautiful historical drama—it is a story filled with heart, soul, and sincerity. I already know I will miss these characters when the journey finally comes to an end.
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When My Boss and Beliefs Collide
This drama brought a refreshing balance to slow burn romances. The FL was young but not weak. She might be naive in romance but not standards nor boundaries. The ML was brilliant in strength as a boss and mentor yet soft when important. The nuisances within office relations, social norms and relational hesitation were relatable and heartfelt. The SFL as an antagonist was short lived but handled awesomely by the ML and SML. The supporting cast was very good at keeping the flow of the storyline. The growth with the FL was conveyed well. Even when the leads had conflict, you could still feel the 'heart' in it all. The unveiling of the 'bad eggs' was right on time and a twist that was enjoyable. The ML continued to grow in emotional intelligence which made the ending scenes cheer worthy. This series has a slow pace but is solid and worth the watch.Was this review helpful to you?
Melancholic Youth Drama
Based on a novel by Katsuse Masahiko, Matsumoto Hana's “The End of the Pale Hour” follows an unnamed protagonist that just graduated from college and is about to enter the workforce. He meets a young woman, and we follow him as he falls in love, makes friends and struggles with his monotonous life.Kitamura Takumi perfectly portrays the young man's enthusiasm, growing disappointment and apathy over the years. His portrayal feels genuine, and the male lead's relatable struggles make it easy to connect with him, even if his character is quite the passive guy. Kuroshima Yuin is excellent as his love interest, and they both had very convincing chemistry. Inoue Yuki as the Naoko, our main lead's upbeat friend, was easily my favorite character. Their friendship made for some heartwarming moments.
The End of the Pale Hour is an empathic depiction of heartbreak, growing up, and a realistic portrayal of the struggles that come with working for a big corporation and finding your place in the world. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. While the first half was light and sweet, the later half shifts in tone as our male lead has to face reality. Personally, I thought the twist was well done and gave this movie another interesting layer. Apart from the wonderful performances of the cast, I also really enjoyed the soundtrack that matched the youth theme and melancholic atmosphere of the story.
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Some stories were very interesting and I was liking of the romance but in a point this romance did not make sense anymore. The main couple was ver inmature, they looked like 30´s years adults but they acted like teneegers, the conversations all the time was about the same and not important. The main male character was very very arrogant and in the most part of the drama he had no respect for the main female character, in the beginig he was insulting her in many ways and then he did not respect her decisions.
The second couple was also the same, Kang Woo was very harsh and gross to Yi Ryung.
I really dont undestant this kind of love in the korean dramas. It seems that being a snooty and a jerk is seen as a quality for a man and them can treat to the woman as a ownship. The worst is when this happans because the male protagonist dont want to admit that he loves the female protagonist and it is so stupid and childish.
When this happens in a drama, I immediately lose interest.
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Time I will never get back
I'll start by saying that since this was from 2014, the production value was grainy and the dubbing (why do they insist upon doing that? These actors can't possibly have worse voices than the people dubbing!) was truly awful in some places.WRITING: So many people said they found this fun and funny. I didn't find it to be either of those things. Full of stereotypes (which I can't lower the rating on, because they are in every Asian show), so many of the characters were unlikable and/or irritating. I'll address the main two: I found the character of Shan Shan to be the epitome of a silly, not-too-bright, ditzy woman, and she didn't seem to improve over the life of the show. The writers had her having internal dialog through the whole thing, which was very irritating, and I never could understand why Feng Teng liked her. Which brings me to Feng Teng: this character, for me, was completely one-note. I didn't necessarily have problems with his "stalker-ish" tendencies as others did, (I have to admit, I thought that him having lunch "with" her on both sides of the window was sweet), but he was not very nice to anyone, and the way he talked to his employees would have the human resources department very busy fending off lawsuits. Part of it, I think, was I didn't find him physically attractive, but since I tend to find attractiveness even more in a person's actions, I REALLY didn't find him attractive. All the women were fawning all over him, but it must have just been because he was rich. All of the scenes of the workplace made every female employee look like she was only working to 1) meet a man; or 2) gossip. And there were a LOT of scenes at work. This show would have benefitted from a good editor and half as many episodes.
ACTING: A lot of overacting was being done by people (perhaps trying to make the show seem amusing) and in the case of the male lead, a lot of under-acting - he had one expression and was not able to generate anything using his face/eyes/body. He was very wooden. There were numerous scenes where it felt like there were pauses waiting for someone to remember what their lines were.
MUSIC: I don't remember it.
RE-WATCH: Are you kidding me?!
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A simple or predictable story with good acting and execution is better than a complex story that loses its direction. For that reason, I decided to give the story a 9 because of how well the drama developed, even though the story wasn't out of the ordinary. The first few episodes were a little slow and melodramatic (major turn off), but it redeems itself quickly and prove to be really entertaining. Despite the sad theme, the drama managed to be both funny and positive. This is one of those longer dramas that actually get better and better as it progresses.
Acting:
Everyone acted pretty well. I particularly watched this because of Moon Chae Won, but I quickly found her character boring and unlikable. It was my first time watching a drama with Han Hyo Joo and she was really natural in her role as the female lead; it almost seem like the positive part of her role matches her real personality. Her scenes with Lee Seung Gi were definitely the highlights of this drama for me.
Music:
The music was adequate. I don't miss it or anything.
Rewatch Value:
I would specifically skip scenes between 2 characters if I were to rewatch this. I think it'll come obvious when you watch it too. However, I think the rest of the drama really made up for it.
Overall
Thinking about all those scenes that I enjoy makes me want to give this a 9. However, the scenes I disliked just went by so slow that I wouldn't even want to sit through it if I was occupied with other things. For that reason, I give this drama an 8.
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This show not only made me laugh out loud uncontrollably but also made me cry at the heartwarming parts. This show is mainly comedy but also has some romance in it. But if you're hoping for them to be in a relationship before the last few episodes, don't get your hopes up. It also has some episodes with some mystery but not a whole lot. Anyways I really recommend this drama. You won't be disappointed!
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