This review may contain spoilers
One Big Family (on a Town Scale) Thwarted by a One-Man Villain
Most of the Heir is a beautiful inky tale about the people who can hurt us the most and legacies fighting tooth and nail to have a future. If you're interested in that, welcome to the show.FL's Family: Li
The Li family feuds may be frustrating at first, but it would be strange to watch a series like this and not expect and want to see characters suffer and grow. Thankfully our female lead gets some punches in and rises through her skills, dedication and love for the art of ink making as well as her love for the family that stands by her.
Despite being one of Zhen's biggest naysayers, her uncle is one of the best side-characters with a great arc throughout the drama. In historical dramaland, disabilities often are either faked, miraculously cured or characters with disabilities are evil without reason. The Heir redeems Zhen's explosive disabled uncle well. Cured of his hatred rather than his disability, he remains himself and shows that his old injuries do not hold him back.
Her eight grandfather is the typical old man, who has seen too much and understands too much to go easy on his granddaughter. Nevertheless, their bond only strengthens throughout the drama. As seventh grandmother's favorite, Zhen interacts a lot with her too. It's interesting to see how one matriarch builds up another. Even though there are a lot of strong grandmothers in historical dramas (like in the recently released A Splendid Match), I wouldn't say other FL's are so explicitly taught.
Zhen's mother has a bittersweet backstory and always has her daughter's back. Zhen's friendship Hua was also very pleasing to watch.
ML's Family: Luo
Wenqian, the ML, is a very human character instead of standing above the FL. They both have setbacks throughout the story. The male lead appears more toward the middle and last half of the drama. His story starts as the classic revenge story, except things don't go as planned. Overall, the characters in The Heir are not as good at scheming as the usual leads, which was refreshing to see. They also don't need to be because unlike in other dramas, the characters here never aim to play their game in the capital (except for the villains).
While I'm not particular fond of the met-as-children-once trope for the main couple, it worked here. Zhen and Wenqian are so cute and awkward, they are simply endearing.
Wensong, the ML's older brother, is one of the best characters the drama has to offer because he cares about ink to an unnatural extend, and it is one of the few crimes this drama commits that he is the only character of his unhinged type. Though, Li Zhen and her uncle come close, it would have been nice to get more mad geniuses.
The elders of their family are an interesting bunch. I would have enjoyed some more time with the aunt.
Villain's Family: Tian
Let's get to the, imo, weakest part of the drama. Two of the Tian family members are almost comically evil and if this were another drama, they wouldn't stand out so much. Alas, in a world filled with characters who have business sense and their own levels of integrity, if of their time, they are a bit too on-the-nose. The main bad guy, Tian Benchang, was exhausting to watch almost immediately. Most times he is on screen, I hope he disappears again. At least he gets what is coming for him.
The Heir is best when it is about the ink, its process, its competition and its consequences. Sadly, the villain overshadows those challenges by being vicious on the personal level only. Despite his non-stop-scheming taking up time, he also suddenly always has the best ink there is in Huizhou. He was simply badly balanced, so the part in which he appears most - the penultimate arc - drags the drama down.
The only light in the dark for the Tian family is Ronghua, who gets dealt a bad hand by being tied to a family which could not appreciate her less. Apart from Zhen's uncle, Ronghua has the best arc in this drama. In fact, I would have liked to see more of her struggles as a nobel lady.
From Family to City to Country
That the nationalism might become strong in this one was to be expected, sadly I don't think the drama balances the story expanding from the family business to the city industry to national craftsmanship as well as it could. Through Wensong's involvement in the army, there are mentions of the national situation from the start, but they are made too unimportant when his punishment after failing to secure military funding is inconsequential. Tian Benchang also overstays his welcome as the big bad, so that ink as the national treasure is squeezed into the last four to three episodes.
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Enjoyable vertical drama, with class acting
I came across this program through social media recommendations, and after watching it, I can definitely see why it’s getting so much praise. The acting was outstanding, and the chemistry between the lead characters really stood out. The storyline kept me engaged from start to finish, with no dull moments whatsoever.The program runs just under three hours, but it flies by thanks to the compelling plot and performances.
The only downside for me was the vertical screen format, which I found a bit off putting . However, I understand it was designed with mobile viewing in mind, so I can overlook that.
Overall, it’s something I’d definitely consider rewatching in the future.
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Takumi-kun Series 2: Rainbow Colored Glass
12 people found this review helpful
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Jeon So-min is a good actress. I've been watching her in Running Man and she's a good entertainer too. The character Oh Kang Soon really suited her, I can't think of any other actress that can pull this character off.
Kim Ji Suk is good as always, no doubt about that. I kind of have the second lead syndrome because of Lee Sang Yeob, maybe because of that RM episode wherein So Min was flirting with him. But well, they're family now. Lol.
The people in the island are funny too. Anyway, this drama is worth watching.
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„Do you think it’s a blessing that we get to know about our future?“
- „It would be terrifying not to know.“
„What if we’re destroying today for the sake of tomorrow? What if we’re complicating our fate in order to change the future?"
It took me a while to finish this drama because I was afraid of the ending. While time travel always leaves room for 'whys' and 'what ifs' and 'why didn't they' and 'shouldn't there be', I have to say, it is one of the better written time travel dramas, and it certainly helps that it was pre-produced. All the flashbacks and time jumps at least made sense and you can follow clearly if you pay attention. It will get confusing if you have a lot of time between the episodes, though, so I recommend you to not drag it.
Now, why I really loved this drama can be summarized in just a few words: Amazing chemistry, fantastic actors, beautiful scenography, moving music and subtle writing. As I said, time travel is a difficult topic, but what I loved most about the writing was not the plot in the first place, but how genuine all the conversations and interactions felt. In many other dramas I find myself thinking: 'Nobody would say that' 'Who does that?' 'why are they so stupid, that's nonsense'. However, in this drama, even though there are some actions that may be misunderstood, you can perfectly comprehend why they act the way they did, how they are driven by fear of irrecoverable loss...
Yes, the directing and filmography are beautiful, but the script makes it complete. I love how it falls together so perfectly.
„Do you love me?“
-„I think I will die if I don’t marry you.“
„Leave! It is hard to even look at you.“
„But what should I do? In my eyes, I see you telling me not to leave…“
Yoo So Joon in the beginning is selfish, and we all know it. Does he really love her? Is he just using her for his own benefits? Is there even an ounce of sincerity in his words?
These thoughts are repeated in an endless cycle in our brains from the moment he decides he must marry her in order to change their fate. I love how the writing uses lines that show us that although he knows he is deceiving her, he carefully chooses his words so as to not to lie too blatantly, like when we feel shame by lying and think it will be less of a sin if we keep as close to the truth as possible. And even more, you can nearly watch how their relationship slowly changes, until there is truly nothing left but genuine love.
For all those reasons and how much it made me smile, cry and feel, I will give it a score of 9.0. It was close to a 10, but near the end there were some things that couldn't quite keep up with the brilliant start. And of course, it leaves us with a very nice message as well:
- No matter what the future holds or what happens tomorrow… can’t we just live freely?
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1. The plot is so solid. This drama doesn't waste your time with over-crying, over-kissing, etc. It really provides you a pure story. Every episode WON'T let you get bored.
2. Every episode will make you laugh. Yes, although it's crime/thriller/action, but this drama is also a comedy. The director twists so many scenes that—I believe—will make you laugh.
3. NO shitty useless romance scene. Unlike other drama, this drama doesn't have 'romance' things. So, the 16 episodes really give you different feels. It's only between laugh or nerves, no lovey-dovey waiting for the actor & actress to kiss.
4. The acting of the actors and actresses are so damn good! The main actor really acts like a stupid guy, and he acts like a psychopath seamlessly. You know, it's so hard to play two roles in one character. The main actress shows her emotions very well. She doesn't need to over-cry to express her sadness. Instead, she shows her meaningful expression through her beautiful face.
5. Haven't come to my mind, I'll add them to here once I remember.
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This review may contain spoilers
And ending that will leave you in tears
WHAT AN ENDING!! HONESTLY I JUST CRIED. If that did not move you then you really have no feelings.SPOILER ALERT:
ML realize that he will never get justice for his family and he decided to do the only thing he could which was to kill the emperor. The emperor truly deserved to die for what he did. Like how can you sacrifice a whole village just for your own personal gain?
That being said, I would love to watch a historical drama with ML where he does not die... (ML also starred in one and only drama, where he died).
Overall great show. Not sure if I want to rewatch it cuz the ending is so sad but just great. And if you can honestly say that this was not a good show then you don't know what a good show is.
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GreeeeN made its debut in 2007 as a group that does not show their faces in public. In addition to the fact that all members are registered dentists, little is known about them.
The film is more publicity than a biography, but one of the best I've seen, its narrative is perfect, cinematography fits the band's very pleasant soundtrack, if short J-Pop and has an interest in knowing this band revelation, Do not miss out on this movie!
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A HIDDEN GEM LIKE NO OTHER
This movie gave me what any other drama series couldn't. So pure, so innocent, delightful. This movie will remind you of your first love, your unrequited love, and your fantasy with them.A plot where you can help but feel wholesomeness and warm-hearted. A cast that can make you experience life, longing, fluster, love, regret, and sadness all in just 1 hour and 30 minutes. It would have been even better if this was a drama series. As a person who doesn't get emotional easily, tears started rolling down towards the end. It is indeed rare to see such movies nowadays. Two individuals unsure about each other feelings want no regrets but have to make sacrifices. There is no kissing scene but you would still feel chemistry burning and the romance thriving .
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Discovered by mere chance while following Takenouchi Yutaka's work, it soon proved to be one of my best drama findings. It wasn't even listed on MDL, nor have I ever read a review or a comment about it.
Rondo is a romance thriller. The two aspects are smoothly interwoven and so well balanced that I don't know if I should say it's a romance on the background of a major criminal plot, or a thriller with an undertone of romance.
But let me go in order.
Plot: 10.
Should you decide to watch this drama, don't be deterred by the complex police investigation at the beginning. Slowly but steadily, the jigsaw pieces find their right place and everything becomes clearer and more and more gripping. Never predictable though; on the contrary, there's a twist at every turn.
The love story is simply beautiful. I love the Japanese-Korean interaction between the main leads, it adds a lot of colour to the story and create some very sweet moments. The two characters are a beauty to watch together: both intense and believable, both incredibly good-looking.
Acting: 10.
Terrific performances by all. Takenouchi proved once again to be an outstanding, very expressive actor and, I can just as well admit it, sexy as hell. The only asian man beside Takeshi Kaneshiro who looks good with a moustache. Choi Ji Woo, whom I had never seen acting before, is wonderful. I loved their first encounter and, since I'm very partial to those, I can say it marked the moment I decided I liked this drama. On screen they share the kind of chemistry which is created by tension and suspicion.
I was impressed by Hayami Mokomichi's and Shin Hyun Joon's performances too.
Cinematography: 10.
This is a dark drama. So are the colours, the screenshots, the city views. Black and gray are the predominant hues. The overall photography and direction are spot-on and there were times when I thought I was watching a long movie, instead of a drama.
Music: 11.
Wait... the option is not available. Pity, since the music is a blast, at least for my taste. There's an awesome instrumental piece in between ethnic and trip-hop which is so well used I was always longing for it to play. The music plays a major role in connection with the shooting. Very well chosen.
Re-watch value is obviously a little lower, as it always is with suspense dramas. Once the twists are known, a little of the thrill is gone. Which doesn't mean I won't rewatch this drama when a reasonable time will have passed.
There is only one sad note about this show: the quality of the streaming videos available. Subs: an atrocity. Although I marathoned through the drama, I must say it was an odyssey. The first episode, which is 90 minutes long, is impossible to find whole and in the right order. It almost made me give up the drama entirely, until I decided to find an alternative way... I'm glad I did. The rest of the 10 episodes has to be scraped together here and there. But if you have the patience, you won't regret it.
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Whilst Joseon period drama have attempted to tackle crossovers of popular genres such as romance and action before with different results ( either for better or for worse), the more surreal take of horror/ fantasy in Joseon period dramas ( notably Scholar Who Walks The Night, Arang And The Magistrate and in flashbacks from the hit series Goblin), have very rarely depicted levels with historical realism or a grounded depiction ( I.e. in terms of cleanliness, monarchs or violence) of actual life during this period.
Screenwriter Kim Eun Hee ( Ghost, Signal) and director Kim Sung Hoon ( Tunnel-2016, Kidnapped- TBC) were paramount from the get-go to revolutionise this in their horror -period drama Kingdom . This creates a surprisingly brilliant fusion between the surrealism of violent zombies into a political and social critique of the bloodthirsty and ruthless Joseon period and hierarchy .( Although labelled as a “ zombie show”, realistically , the word “ zombie” isn’t used once by any of the characters, due to the concept itself coming from Haitian folklore and not even entering the English language until the 1800s.)
Set in the 1500s , Kingdom revolves around the estranged and traitorous Prince Lee Chang ( Ju Ji Hoon) , whose fate as the successor to the throne looks grim with the recent announcement of his stepmother and the young Queen Cho ( Kim Hye Joon) ‘s pregnancy. Chang, however, becomes suspicious when his father is suddenly ailing from a mysterious illness which nobody will elaborate about outside of the palace. After stumbling upon the truth that his father is a flesh -eating creature, he travels to the South in search of questions with his trusted guardsman Moo Young ( Kim Sang Ho). Naturally, however, they are not the first to stumble upon this truth as assistant physical Seo Bi ( Bae Doo Na) and the mysterious Young Shin ( Kim Sun Gyu) also come across this startling discovery, which will truly test alliances and friendships as a political bloodbath simultaneously corrupts even the heart of Hanyang ( now present- day Seoul)...
It is undeniable that the “ violent zombie” cliche isn’t anything new , nor exciting to television programmes . On the other hand, Kingdom’s strength lies in its focal point ( unlike many zombie programmes) not being on the undead, but the complexity and intricacy of humans.
From Lee Chang’s strong sense of morality towards his allies ( of all classes), Cho Beom-pal ( Jeon Seok- ho)’s gradual transition from one of the selfish members of the ruling-class to someone with a good heart , and the Queen’s ulterior motives against her father’s knowledge , it is notable that the majority of the characters in the show are fairly three-dimensional. Arguably, antagonist Cho Hak-Ju ( Ryu Seung Ryong) can often be written off as your typical moustache-twirling villain, however, there is still a notable level of depth to his character- a bereaving father who has lost his son and is out for revenge against Lee Chang , desperate to protect his family’s lineage and has many more secrets than first meet the eye.
Undeniably, the pacing of the show can be a little slow in the beginning, however, once the events of the show kick off, it is fair to say that time flies out of the window when watching Kingdom- the plot is engaging, the historical elements are surprisingly realistic, the characters are actually intriguing and the horror premises ( zombies, cannibalism and bloodshed etc.) are certainly not for the faint-hearted. Nevertheless, perhaps the one thing which should honestly be said about the show is that whilst the acting certainly wasn’t unwatchable and the actors undeniably had their moments of genuinely good performances , some acting in the show was often a little wooden and lacklustre.
Overall whilst Kingdom was undeniably slightly flawed by quality of acting and pacing at times, it was certainly a good show with an intriguing balance between history and horror as well as a deeper conceit towards a social critique contemporary of Korean society. Certainly worth a watch, if you’re looking for something to invest time and effort towards.
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I ll start by saying this is a unique storyline to me and i found it captivating so i sat through the 16 episodes straight in one day. so its really a slice of life interesting drama.....with that being said i'll dive into an emotional rant of all the characters..... yes all of them in this drama were scum to varying degrees..... the lowest degree of scumness was dr kim and the highest degree of scumness was Lee tae oh...... as a matter of fact there is low, lower, Lee Tae Oh..... you get the point lol.1) Sun Woo- so in the first few episodes i could feel her pain, she had a perfect life and all of a sudden she realised her husband was cheating on her and stealing from her and her 'Friends' were in on it too........ i was pissed along with her raining curses of Lee Tae Oh. i was also proud of her strategy to divorce him without him knowing.... i was proud of her ability to stand up for herself every time.... then in much later episodes i began to doubt her aim of doing all she was doing, she literally lost it in my opinion because so many of her actions were so questionable to me. using her son as a bait too was low of her (although it was smart) but the boy didn't deserve to think his father was abusive to the mother just like that. The boy also deserved to see the father so that whole act in their welcome party was another low! and her betraying the bartender girl in order to protect herself and her love hate relationship was low! also its important to not that she was too stuck up on her work, too overconfident in thinking she knew her soon and had everything in control.... phewww she could have avoided a lot of things by moving out and starting afresh but i feel she was stuck up on proving points and never really got over her ex husband.
2)Tae oh---- deserves a whole rant epistle but in short he was just an entitled cheat who felt he should be forgiven for keeping a mistress ( who got pregnant) for two years while he had a wife and son.....whats worse.... he was stealing from his sons policy funds to take care of the mistress like really...! After the whole divorce he married his mistress and comes back rich and successful (or kinda not) and starts stalking and threatening his ex wife and trying to get her fired, trying to buy his son back.... girls this is the kind of man you really dont want to marry PERIODT!
7)sun woo's son----- while i feel bad for his situation which isnt his fault, he was a whole mess.... a spoilt brat literally! i mean his classmate's mum was also divorced but she still lived right. why he decided to use his dysfunctional parents as a reason to do clownery i will never understand. also i felt he was more forgiving of his father than his mother.... he was way to mean to her!
3)All the family friends---- how do you go on a vacation with you friends and one of you comes with a lady who isnt his wife..... and you do not tell the wife, as a matter of fact you help him deceive the wife (like what.... off with their heads lol) and let me not get started on seol myung the double spy..... i was happy Hyo jung got redemption at some point because she was the only one in their circle who had a bit of sense even though her husband holds the 3rd position on the scum list. i mean he was married but the whole time he was sleeping around and trying to woo his own friend's wife chile....
4)Mistress----- this clown was just so naive and stupid, a man leaves his family for you and somehow you think you acting right and being a supportive wife will make you better than his old wife and stop him from cheating on you like he did to his old wife ......... i mean people change but once a cheat, always a cheat i guess! the fact she was trying to buy everybody's love and loyalty in the city and make sun woo look like a bad person was low!
5)mistress father---- typical rich powerful man in kdramas that has power to do many things mostly bad things. him and his wife were too stuck up on themselves to correct their child for taking someones husband. they instead ran a campaign to get her support from the community with their money....
6) community peeps----- this ppl will just kiss a** of any influential person and gossip for a living...... i cant.....
the only somewhat decent people in this drama were min hyun (bartender girl), chairman choi's wife (woman association leader) , and dr kim..... every other person can be thrown away thanks!
Anyways watch the drama its emotionally investing but its captivating and interesting. And i hope they scoop a lot of awards because the acting was 100%
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Expected a lot more :(
Here comes my unpopular opinion, sorry.When I first heard about the storyline it really pulled me in and seemed super interesting and sweet with the "soulmate" plot. But it turned strange and unhealthy really fast. I wanted to give it a chance and keep an open mind, but the dark and obsessive "love" felt really disturbing. It puts the relationship in a really unrealistic and unhealthy light.
This is in my opinion not a good BL show and I don't like the way this show glorifies unhealthy relationships.
If you want to watch good BLs I recommend HIStory3: Trapped, 30-sai made Dotei Da to Mahotsukai ni Nareru rashii or 2gether. Even the new show To My Star. All are healthy and you can see a relationship blossoming.
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Acting: It was great acting through and through. Enough said!
Music: Not annoying, suitable and there when needed.
Rewatch Value: I will definitely rewatch this at some point in time!
I really had to make myself watch the first 4 or 5 episodes as I didn't get hooked to it immediately. But once I got addicted I couldn't wait for the next episode to come. But, although of this "slow" start and the logical gap regarding Dong Man's ex (at least for me) this drama deserves a full 10 because it is quite realistic and therefore so different from a lot of other dramas!
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