enjoyed it more than expected!
This romcom started with every cliché there could possibly be for a cdrama: cold male (traumatized) CEO, dumb, childish, poor girl, contract marriage, accidental kisses .... You might need some time to get into this drama, but since it's always that way for me, I didn't mind too much.The FL doesn't turn out as dumb and annoying as probably expected. At some point, I really started to like her.
I had a harder time adjusting with the ML. No matter how incapable of dealing with other people, their and his own feelings he was supposed to be, this was definitely no way to treat a girl lol.
There were some way too obvious plot holes you just can't miss, even to me, who watches dramas for pure entertainment and always oversees them. But it's okay, the overall story is good, and I especially loved the development of their feelings, so I guess you can just ignore some other things :)
The acting is so good! The ML's amazing, and the FL does so much better than expected. It's her debut drama, she's only 19 (!!), so let's be kind to her!
Also great chemistry between the first couple! Can't wait for further development :))
The FL always gets herself in trouble, and there were some issues that made me feel a bit uncomfortable sometimes, but they were surprisingly solved quite comfortably.
I just finished Ep14, and I'll do an update once I finished the whole thing. By now, it's far better than expected :) (Don't mind the rewatch value, I usually don't rewatch dramas)
EDIT: Okay, finally got to finish it! Sooo there's few things I'd like to add:
- Whoever said a good drama HAS to be non-cliché like, unpredictable and intense, I FUNDAMENTALLY diasagree with that!!
- Regarding my last aspect before the edit, this was definitely one of the things I enjoyed the most about this. Issues didn't take up years to build up and again years to solve, they came and went quickly, making the journey of watching quite comfortable and pleasant. However, the only waaay too consistent thing were the 2 more or less nasty sideleads who lowkey (or better highkey) tried to ruin their relationship. And there was no way you could ignore them because they were there ALL THE TIME :(
- This drama definitely focusses on character development, not business or the ML's phobia or anything else.
- The chemistry was OVER THE TOP. Won't say too much about this because I don't want to spoiler on this, but I don't doubt at all you'll feel it too.
- Second couple got only little screentime, I enjoyed their storyline a lot tho. It's not that I refuse "too much cliché" (lol don't watch this if you do), but I liked that they didn't make the second couple to that "one chasing the other" cliché too.
Last thing (I promise hahaha): It's a very very short drama. And the beginning was by far the worst part. It has 30 Eps of 30 Minutes, so that'd be 20 Eps (!!!) of 45 Minutes. (Not me actually sitting down and calculating that oops.) It's no shame to drop a drama if you don't like it, but here, it's also not that hard to stay through it for the ending :)
Was this review helpful to you?
They did us dirty with the way it ended
I’ll preface this by saying I haven’t seen Addicted, nor have I read the piece(s) the series is based on. I am not going to compare it to anything, but I will simply judge it on its own.The plot is interesting. It’s not something we often get in BLs (yes, I know this is a censored version, but it’s still a BL), and even if we do, it’s rarely done well. Stay With Me has executed it amazingly! The plot is not nearly as simple as it seems at first, which was a really pleasant surprise. While the development of the relationship (romantic or not) between Wu Bi and Su Yu is at the front of the series, it’s not the only focus. We also get to follow how other relationships change and develop over time, mainly those of their family members and close friends.
Wu Bi & Su Yu: I love seeing them together. The two might be quite different but they have an amazing influence on each other. Wu Bi might appear cold, arrogant, short-tempered and uncaring, but in reality, that’s all a front he puts up to protect himself. We get to see him open up more once he gets closer to Su Yu and his family. Su Yu lives only for school because that’s his ticket out of poverty. He is not a demanding child, he never asks for help or anything from his father, because he knows his father is trying his best. He does become more carefree as he gets closer with Wu Bi. He becomes more open and willing to talk about his wants and needs, especially with his Wu Bi. The two might have started off as enemies, rivals, but the way things change was done very well. It was well thought through. Their actions had clear intentions and reasons, as did the way their relationship progressed. I think both actors did great in their roles, they had great chemistry.
Now, this might have been a censored work, but it didn’t really hide what kind of relationship the two have. Their looks, their touches, the little kisses, the way they gravitated towards one another, the innuendoes that were being thrown left and right… they might have left a lot up to our imagination, but they made things as clear as they could.
I absolutely love Su Yu’s dad, miss Zhou and Duo! With all the flaws that Su Yu’s dad had, he has always been immensely proud of his kids – Su Yu, Wu Bi and Dou – and all of their achievements, no matter how big or small they were. He was incredibly supportive of them and always there when they needed him. The same goes for miss Zhou. As for Duo, she was a little ray of sunshine who is always ready to share her words of wisdom with her two older brothers. This was the found family all of them needed to thrive, not just the boys. Not all of them were blood related, some not even by law, but they truly showed what it means to be a family, to love each other, to support each other.
On the other hand, I don’t think Su Yu’s mom and most of Wu Bi’s family have any redeeming qualities. There is something about the cousin that I disliked from the start. Might be his arrogance or just the overall vibe he had, but I don’t think he cares about anyone but himself. His uncles are horrible. They treat everyone around them like dirt and that didn’t really sit well with me. Wu Bi’s father lost any right for redemption once we learned he has been abusive towards his son after his mom passed away. And Su Yu’s mom lost the right for redemption the moment she decided to abandon her child. I don’t care how much they tried to make us sympathize with the two, I think both of them are bad parents.
Which brings me to things I disliked. One thing was Su Yu’s dad saying how all parents love their children. Not all parents do and not all of them deserve to be respected as parents. Children do not owe love and respect to their parents if that is not something they received from them. I know Asian cultures are big on respecting your elders, but it’s actually a very damaging idea. I think certain scenes were very bizarre and didn’t make much sense or were done in an over dramatic way that just made them hard to watch. There are also certain things that I feel lacked proper closure or explanation why it happened like it did. Or how it was even possible. And I am not even talking about the ending here.
That ending though… they better give us a S2, because I am not happy with how it all ended. It does feel like it was a setup for another season, especially how it was all left in the air in the end. It was a scene I knew was coming based on the trailer, but I did not expect it to be left unfinished like that.
Was this review helpful to you?
2
1Angel & Grim Reaper
If you’re obsessed with professional dancing, I’m gonna go out on a limb and say you will probably be head over heels for this one, way more than I was. Don’t get me wrong, the movie isn’t bad by any stretch. In fact, it’s pretty damn impressive. They dive deep into the nitty-gritty of dance techniques, the ins and outs of the competitive ballroom world and how that high-stakes environment messes with the people caught up in it. I was honestly blown away by how authentic it felt. But if I’m being real, the romance in this was way too slow of a waltz for my taste.The story centers on two men: Sugiki and Suzuki. These guys are internationally ranked competitive dancers, but they’ve never gone head-to-head because they dominate in different styles. Sugiki is all about Standard Ballroom, while Suzuki slays in Latin Dance. Still, they have got this long-standing rivalry that keeps them hyper-aware of each other. Then, out of nowhere, Sugiki throws a wild proposition: they train each other in their respective styles and take on the 10DANCE. For those not in the know, that’s an event combining all five Standard Ballroom dances and all five Latin Dances. In competition, they dance with their female partners but during practice, it’s mostly just the two of them and that’s where things get interesting. There’s this undercurrent of competitive flirtation that simmers beneath every step and turn they take together. It’s hot, no doubt but it’s also frustratingly understated for a hopeless romantic like me.
I will say, the actors absolutely killed it. Their movements are mesmerizing. When Sugiki and Suzuki train together, you can feel the tension through the screen. Their bodies move with such precision and passion, it’s almost erotic without even trying to be. The way Sugiki’s Standard style clashes with Suzuki’s hip-rolling Latin flair is pure art. I mean the chemistry between them is off the charts. The actors nailed every single detail.
The production quality is also top-notch. The cinematography captures every angle of the dances with such grace and the music has the perfect heartbeat to every scene, whether it’s a slow tango or a fast-paced cha-cha. Honestly, the movie is a feast for the eyes and ears. I can see why so many people would fall in love with it, especially if you’re into the technical side of things or just appreciate a beautifully crafted film.
But here’s where I’m gonna be brutally honest: I wanted more romance, damn it! From the trailer, I got the vibe that this would be a love story but I’d say romance was maybe 20% of the movie. I get it, the title and premise say “dance first,” and they executed that part flawlessly. I’m not saying they did anything wrong; it’s just not what I expected and that’s on me for hyping up the love angle in my head. If dance is your jam, you will probably eat this up and ask for seconds.
And well...the ending...I hate to say it, but it was such a letdown. Without giving spoilers, I’ll just say it felt kind of empty. I wanted a bigger payoff, something to make my heart race or at least leave me satisfied. Instead, it just kinda fizzled out.
So, bottom line: this movie is amazing in its own right. It’s artistic, beautifully made and the actors are phenomenal. If you are into dance or just appreciate a visually stunning film, you have got every reason to love this. I’m just a sucker for romance and I felt a bit shortchanged on that front. Plus, that flat ending didn’t help. Still, I would say give it a shot. It’s worth watching for the talent and passion on display. Just don’t go in expecting a full-blown love story like I did or you might walk away a little disappointed too.
Was this review helpful to you?
"Your voice calls to my heart"
Let me briefly explain about ML/FL....Our Male lead is a good cook, doctor, musician, voice artist…YEP an all in one 😍😎
& Our female lead is a university student who does music for the historical genre. Her dream is to collaborate with her favorite voice dubbing artist our Male lead
♡ Here's the review: (will update after watching every episode)
What you will get to see in this drama? Here 👇
✅️ Male lead is simply awesome, He is a walking green flag <3 introvert & mature guy!! I'm falling in love with him more & more in each & every episode
✅️ He is not trying to hide his feelings for female lead, even though he is a introvert he is trying his best to start a conversation with female lead and creating a comfortable space in between them.
✅️ Female lead is the cutest 😍 her acting is soo reliastic, I never felt cringe about her acting/attitude.
✅️ Both the main characters are very well written and also the environment of this drama is soo positive, FL has a great/awesome family and ML has a awesome friends/fam
✅️ Second lead couple are the cutest
✅️ no rival no jealousy ❤️
✅️ Healthy Communication in between them!! i really really loved how pure their communication is!! she is telling him how exactly she is feeling about something and he was showing his pure intentions, its soo cute soo guys 😭 Sweetness overload..now i can't sleep 😅
This is absolutely my type of romcom ❤️❤️❤️
What you don't get from this drama
❌️ cold male lead vs Attitude Female lead
❌️ Third wheel
❌️ Annoying Characters to rise our blood pressure
Maybe some of you will hate me for talking like this ,but still ..... I never able to watch a cdrama with this much of love!! Either They will drag the story or the couples have unrealistic miscommunication in between them!! But oh my god believe me guys this is not one of them!!
And the harsh truth is I started watching this drama becoz of FL (loved her in yesterday once more movie){becoz most of them r started this becoz of ML} but rn I'm falling in love with our ML, don't misunderstood my words!! I dont like him Just becoz he is a nice guy, he was literally showing our FL how much he values her!! From asking her permission if she is comfortable in adding him to her we chat to asking her if he can give her his mobile number!! DAMN THE RESPECT HE IS GIVING HER, I'M FALLING FOR THAT ...
Just completed the series guys!! I'm in tears 😭 how could everything is soo perfect here?!!? story/acting/supporting characters/osts!! everything is just soo perfect & beautiful to me!! THIS IS MY FAV DRAMA OF 2023 💞😍 THANKYOU Qiang & Sheng for making my evngs beautiful 😍 now tell me what should I do 😭😭 I don't even know why I am crying!! is it because this is ended 😭 or the ending is soo beautiful, I miss you sm everyone 💗 thankyou for making me feel like that 💖
He is giving her butterflies 🦋 she is giving him butterflies 🦋 & they both r making me experience a whole zoo 🤭💘
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
The art direction, acting and incredible sets are as breathtaking as the massive scope of the series.
The show is good but they left out all the juicy details from the novel,
I love the opening ost, and Qu chu xiao super cute, i am glad to see him main role,
The production is beautiful, the dialog economical and exceptionally well-delivered,
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
I always feel like somebody's watching me.
I struggle to contain my anger at the monumental disappointment this drama turned into because it could have been a huge hit. I am so irritated I need to get it off my chest with a spoiler heavy review, something I really dislike doing. I think I figured out the confusing ending that I explain below. Do not read this if you don't want to be spoiled.The story is a very simple, poignant enchanted fairy tale. Fu Jiuyun (Zheng Yecheng) is an immortal who falls for a mortal with an indomitable spirit in a magical painting his shifu left him and stalks her across ten incarnations over a thousand years. In her incarnation as Yanyan, a Li princess, she is destined to marry her childhood sweetheart and live a happy life. Jiuyun cannot stay away from her and in the guise of a dissipated genius artist Gongziqi gifts her a magical painting of a peach blossom tree and a magical song that she performs for her mother's birthday celebration. Note that the painting and song are key in the ending interpretation. The dance is truly captivating and if nothing else, just watch that. At this point I was addicted and fully invested in both leads.
An ambitious neighboring prince makes a deal with demon forces, invades her kingdom, massacres her family and enslaves her people. A devastated Yanyan vows vengeance and embarks on a quest to obtain a magical lamp that can absorb the demon forces and free her people. She assumes the appearance of her maid Ah Man (note the name) and calls herself Qinchuan. This is where they replace the actress Jiang Yiyi with the more well known Zhao Lusi. First mistake - it was not just confusing throughout but I had to get over the first actress whom I liked and get invested in the female lead all over again. The switch worked at first because Lusi is a really funny actress and her antics with Jiuyun, Xiao Bai and Er Meng were entertaining. However, the couple's interactions fell short of the seamless transition from humor to intimacy that was so well done in Under the Power. As a result, Jiuyun initially comes across one of those oily old dudes that misbehaves with young girls. While their chemistry eventually "clicked", Lusi's initial indifference made Jiuyun's overtures seem unwelcome to the point of harassment.
Just when their romance takes off, the show separates them and shifts into the revenge plot. This is where Qinchuan becomes all bravado and no brain - she has no credible plan and has to be rescued multiple times. She works with Er Meng and Xiao Bai; Jiuyun only bails her out from afar. The show peaks too early with the take-down of most of the bad guys and then digresses further into the super boring second couple. I suggest skipping all of their scenes in the middle. They could have easily cut 6-10 episodes to avoid the fatal loss of momentum in the storytelling. Then Jiuyun decides to help Qinchuan fulfill her mission even though it means a certain end for him. He is the wick of the lamp that once lit, eventually burns out.
Once the tone shifts away from largely comedic, Lusi struggles to get into the moment in action and emotional scenes. She is not versatile and is mostly just excellent at comedy. Her performance was flat through most of the second part of the show and only saved by some of the steamier romantic scenes with Jiuyun. By then, I had enough and just wanted it to end. Zheng Yecheng's performance on the other hand was consistently stellar - he really carried the show. Apart from being smoking hot (I can watch him all day), his interpretation of the hard core romantic good guy that disguises himself as a world weary, cynical, indifferent and dissipated immortal was spot on. His eyes shine with unshed tears at all the right moments and as he protects Qin Chuan from the truth of what she asks of him.
The ending is confusing and to me it is quite sad in a Butterfly Lovers kind of way (major spoiler):
Qinchuan realizes that Jiuyun is not coming back ; even Meishan admits that his soul has scattered. She completes her ritual with the lamp - she had already bonded with it earlier on. She wakes up as child Yanyan who dreams an old man (her shifu?) tells her that she gets a fresh start. I think the lamp takes them all back in time for a do over. She grows up and intuitively makes way for Zichen to fall in love with Xuanzhu. Her maid is no longer Ah Man but a Xiao Cui. She has more sad dreams where Jiuyun tells her that she will soon forget him. As the time loop starts to replay her mother's birthday she forgets how to play the song Jiuyun/Gongziqi wrote for her and the pipa disappears into the painting. In this new life, Yanyan will marry Er Meng and their kingdoms will be at peace. She never becomes Qinchuan so eventually Qinchuan and Jiuyun's relationship also gets erased or never happens. Jiuyun snatches the last bits of her memory of Qinchuan and escapes into the magic painting with Qinchuan and the pipa. It is the only place where they can be together but they may be just shadows or memories of who they were. I initially thought she was sucked into the lamp where Jiuyun creates an alternative world for her but if that were the case, he wouldn't have to put her into the painting. This is where they should have used both actresses to make it more clear by leaving Yanyan behind while Qinchuan goes into the painting with Jiuyun. It makes me feel a bit better to imagine that Qinchuan and Jiuyun cultivate together in the painting and after thousands of years both become immortals that live happily ever after. The novel ending is different, more straightforward and much happier - essentially Jiuyun eventually reappears and they are together.
Despite the poor execution and confusing ending, it is still a beautiful fairy tale with some gorgeous scenes and amazing moments that is worth watching. Best be liberal with the fast forward button through the middle parts. My low rating reflects the poor execution that prevented this from being an unforgettable and addictive love story.
Was this review helpful to you?
This drama stars Park Min Young as Hae Won. Hae Won's POV is how we slowly (very slowly) get introduced to this town. She is cold, and super emo, so don't expect a completely lovable character, but I found her performance to be super realistic, and I empathized with her even when she frustrated me. I'm not surprised that she was so good (she's one of my favorites), but I am surprised that she had such great chemistry with Seo Kang Joon, who I initially thought was too young for her. They were perfectly matched from the very beginning, whether their scenes were awkward, cute, sexy, or intense. There is also a lot unsaid between them, and lots of staring , which would get old quick with lesser actors. I just loved how they played off of each other so well no matter the mood of the scene. Kang Joon also plays Eun Sub as mysterious so effortlessly but also showed awkward vulnerability in a way that made me fall in love with his character quickly and look forward to seeing him on screen, even if he was just making coffee (very slowly lol). This isn't your typical romance, but I think romance fans with patience will get the payoff of seeing a great love story between two loners struggling with their own complicated pasts. Warmth in this drama isn't just about the weather, it's about how they are able to warm each other emotionally, and that feeling between them is palpable. It also gets HOT at moments which I appreciate!
The rest of the cast truly is also amazing, and really makes the town feel 100% real. One good thing about the pace is that it gives time for the supporting cast to also be portrayed as complicated well-developed characters, whether I loved or hated them. So many of the supporting characters got me in the feels... Mom and Aunt in the matching sunglasses (my favorites), Eun Sub's parents and hilariously obnoxious little sister, The book editor, The frienemy, The book club, and goofy but reliable Lee Jang Woo... eventually I felt like I knew the whole town well, and along with the gorgeous shots of the scenery, it felt like a welcomed vacation from coronavirus quarantine. At times it was almost a PSA for social distancing (physically and mentally lol)!
As for the story, I do think it is well done, with great attention to detail when it comes to relationships, and even a bit of suspense, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't struggling during the first episodes which mostly set the mood more than moving the story forward. It almost feels more like a stage play at some points. Still, it is definitely original and I had no idea where the story would lead, which was great, The music, while a perfect fit, also makes taking a nap during this drama very tempting. The Good Night Club confessional blog also felt a little much at times, although it does allow us to see more into Eun Sub's thoughts, especially about "Irene". For me, the pace picked up once Mom showed up, or at least there was much more focus on the overall story, and I no longer felt the urge to nap from then on. Not that the mood every really changes completely, the tone is moody and even calming throughout.
So, would I watch this again? I'm sure I will. I do think that now that I have connected to the characters and know what's going on, that the slow beginning would be more enjoyable the second time, and I'll no longer be confused by moments that didn't matter to me out of context. I still think some things could have been introduced or resolved in a way that dragged less, and maybe fewer flashbacks initially, but I still respect the overall pace because of the mood and atmosphere it helped to create.
Overall, I was uncertain at first, but this may be the perfect drama to watch while stuck at home. Don't expect a lot of action, a major villain, or even melodrama, because this story is driven by relationships and character development. I did love the themes of healing through emotional warmth and affection, struggles with forgiveness, or even the comfort in expressing themselves at the multigenerational bookclub. To me, this was a wonderful love story but it also explored all the different ways love can look, even when it seems like love is not there. I laughed, I cried, I felt butterflies and wanted to scream at the screen at moments, so I would never call this drama boring as a whole. I recommend giving this drama a chance. It won't appeal to everyone, but the slow but steady vibe definitely won me over!
Was this review helpful to you?
Once in a year healing warm pure romance Korean drama that we all wait for.
YES! YES! YES! You read it right. "You Are My Spring" comes under the category of slow-paced, pure romance dramas, that the Korean Drama Industry makes sure to present us with, every year at least once. And, it's not just warm, it contains plenty of healing factors which are necessary in a relationship because opening up to each other and growing up while tending to each other's wounds, is the most important thing.As a drama, I feel, it has done a very amazing job in justifying the genre, giving off the warm romance vibes and making me cry a loads and healing my heart. Only disappointing thing about this drama is how miserably the writer failed while attempting to blend a secondary murder mystery storyline to such pure romance genre. But since the 2 storylines went seprate ways for most of the later parts, I am gonna ignore it while reviewing the drama. Although 2 different storylines with the least relevance is a major drawback for any story, I think it's fine in this case because, the thriller part is only 10-15% of the entire story, hence avoidable. This is definitely going to my top 10 romance drama list.
STORY & PLOT:
The drama majorly involves 2 people, Kang Da Jung (Seo Hyun Jin), a manager at a 5 star hotel and Joo Young Do (Kim Dong Wook), a reputed psychiatrist doing multiple jobs. They meet each other as neighbours in the Gugu Building after renting different floors (3rd and 2nd respectively). Shortly after it, both of them find themselves connected to a criminal who supposedly has had encounters with both the lead characters in a shelter home when all 3 were children.
Both Kang Da Jung and Joo Young Do have their own stories of traumatic childhood. Kang Da Jung, a witness of her alcoholic abusive father beating her mother every other night, has the scars from the past days when she had to live under a scary roof protecting her younger brother. It's been long she feld with her mother and brother silently over the night but she still has that knief stuck in her neck. Joo Young Do, the second child and a potential donor to his terminally ill older brother, was always made to feel responsible about his brother's well-being even as a kid. Upon the older's demise he was left out from his mother's love and later developed a bad heart for which he got transplanted.
Kang Da Jung, who inherits her mother's trait of picking up wrong men to date, has failed in relationship several times where as Joo Young Do, who got married to an actress to help her get better, still avoids dating in the fear of ruining someone's life bcs of his heart conditions. They keep bumping into each other after moving to the Gugu Building and also encounter each other at unusual places because of the murder case. Young Do as a psychiatrist can see through Da Jung and secretly wishes to help her out. Da Jung on the other hand finds Young Do interesting but recent events make her avoid bonding with strangers. So the drama is all about them becoming closer, helping each other to sort out their pasts, healing each other's scar and most importantly, falling in love with each other in the mean time.
The plot development of the primary story, i. e. the romance is very niceeeeee. I am soooo very happy with the story. The slow-paced, quite and gradual progression of the romance in an adult relationship is like once in hundred moment in Korean Drama World and we must realize, You are My Spring is one of them. Not just the lead couple, there are several several short yet detailed storylines for the side characters, be it about their dating life or families or work places. And I am happy those side storylines also have great relevance with the major storyline because all of the side characters revolve around each other as in live close or work together or are deeply bonded.
The primary plot of romance between the leads is accompanied by a secondary murder mystery plot where one of the main characters with connection only with the 2 protagonists is drawn. This part and this character is very unnecessary, I feel. This secondary plot could have been easily wrapped up within 6 or 7 episodes so that the story would have continued only with the romance part because all we saw about the thriller parts were hardly 10 mins per episode. Anyways, I am not gonna talk much about this part since it's totally essence less in the story.
CAST & ACTING:
I can't help but give the production 10 out of 10 because of this amazing cast. There are few unfamiliar faces here as well along with some moderately popular actors but all of them did a very good job at their respective roles assigned to them. Given that the characters are fairly drawn, all of them have succeeded in justifying whatever they were provided with and what could be more satisfying than that?
Seo Hyun Jin as Kang Da Jung is one of the most suitable choice as she has done similar files in "Another Miss Oh" and "Temperature of Love". Her expressions are always on point, no matter what the situation is, and I have always loved her acting. Seeing Kim Dong Wook in his post 2015 dramas has been a lil kinda feeling for me because of the way he's changed from a cute lil kid in Coffee Prince (2009) to a well grown adult now T T. He never fails to mesmerize with his cuteness and acting.
I have loved Yoon Park all along but here his character and the secondary plot provided to it are really unnecessary, so I am not gonna say much. Anyways, he looked extra handsome in this, I must admit. Nam Gyu Ri as Ahn Ga Young, a depressed actress, did justify her role. I have loved her dialogue delivery style and her character is lovable. Kim Ye Won as Park Eun Ha, Da Jung's friend and the owner of the ground floor coffee shop is straightforward and cares a lot for Da Jung. Ga Young, Eun Ha and Da Jung's trio friendship chemistry is worth falling for. The other trio was of Young Do and his 2 best friends, Seo Ha Neul (1st floor Vet), Chunk Seung Won (variety show PD). These guys were so cute together and loved the way they have been maintaining this long-term friendship.
Another character is Moon Mi Ran, Da Jung's mother played by one of my fav ahjumma Oh Hyun Kyung, which I loved so much. Whatever she went through in the past and how she overcame that plus raised her 2 kids and also how she's living her life in the drama, everything is very well portrayed.
Among others, Park Chul Do (Eun Ha's twin brother), Kang Tae Jung (Da Jung's younger brother), Oh Mi Kyung (Young Do's assistant), Park Ho (the asst. Detective), Heo Yu Kyung (Da Jung's colleague), Min Ah Ri (cafe part-timer), Ko Jin Bok (chief Detective), Patrick (Kpop idol and Ga Young's boyfriend) and Han Jin Ho (Ga Young's trainer) are some notable characters. Even with small screentimes, these characters bloomed very well in their own ways.
DIRECTION & SCREENWRITING:
Direction is very good as well. Given the story is extensively relevant to the past events of the 3 main characters, the production had a lot to do on their plate and I feel that's been well executed. The sound editing of first 5 or 6 episodes kind of gave off the feelings of this drama being a thriller genre. It was dark and intense enough to make the audience anxious about what might happen next.
The writer with less experience has done a good job in drawing the plotline of the entire drama which is possible when you are aware of numerous shades of relationships and the most important thing in the process of love. The intensive romance by the means of healing the other's heart is the best kind of romance which has been very beautifully written in the story. Also, it's quite rare for Kdramas to draw subtle yet meaningful storylines for the side or supporting characters but if you see, this drama delivers them very well. Not just one or two, all the slide storylines were cute and made me feel good.
The only DRAWBACK of this drama is the secondary thriller plot. I think to make the story extra interesting as well as to fill the quota of 16 episode drama trend, the writer added the character of Yoon Park as well as it's storyline. There's no definite second lead syndrome here anyways so that way, they should have limited the thriller part to first few episodes and tried to wrap that up asap. But they dragged it till the end which could have been i interesting if it were related to the lead couples to a great extent. It rather was a whole different story with the 2 lead having nothing to do with. Yoon Park was seen with the 2 leads separately only in few scenes and also the mystery part is given hardly 10 mins in each episode following the 4th. So in my opinion, this secondary plot could have been easily avoided even so the drama had to end with 14 episodes. May be the writer wanted to make it lile "When The Camellia Blooms" but it became a waste.
OSTs:
There are plenty of OSTs along with more than one versions of few tracks. "In Ruin" by Raiden is an slow yet intense track. "Because its You" by SURL is a beautiful softcore healing track that's been well used in the drama. "Still Wonder" by Ha Hyun Sang is a jolly song that makes your heart flutter.
"A Butterfly Flew Away" is a feel good song with beautiful lyrics sung by Kim Min Seok and gives off the oldschool Kdrama OST vibes. Another OST of the same vibes is "Dear My Spring" which is both healing and sad at the same time. Our dear Onew has sung this.
"Falling Flowers" by Yang Da Il is a heart-wrenching sad track that was used while showing the childhood stories of the 3 leads which made me cry every time I listened to it. In fact, the drama starts with this song. "Cliché" by Kwon Soon Kwan and "Me So Bad" by YOARI are 2 happy-go-lucky tracks. Notably, "Falling Flower" has a Da Jung Version sung by uri yepoo noona Seo Hyun Jin.
The instrumentals of the above mentioned OSTs plus the background scores are all well utilized. First few episodes were a bit confusing because they used thriller sound devices which later shifted to warm romance vibes.
DESCRIPTION:
Well, you might think I am overreacting by saying the same thing again and again but this drama is actually very good. It's totally my type of healing romance Kdrama, something that I always wait for. The way Da Jung and Young Do went from becoming strangers to acquaintance neighbours to friends to finally lovers is such a beautiful course events to witness throughout the journey. Their way of accompanying each other, extending hands to each other, listening to each other, trying their best to understand each other, tending to each other's wounds as well as healing every lil corner of each other's heart, are very warm and a wholesome feeling. They gave their 100% in building trust between them by means of hit & trial method. They did crazy things together in a snow evening. They believed each other during the times of odd. All these things are parts of a warm and healing love story which seemingly disinterests a huge no of audience but that's their fault of having no taste, ngl.
The relationship of a mother and daughter between Mi Ran and Da Jung are notable. They didn't only look like friends by looks, they actually lived their lives as friends. Da Jung relied a lot on her mother as a kid even when they were poor and had to go through domestic abuse. Now that she's a grown lady, her mother has become a companion in her life, giving shoulder to all her pains and celebrating on her even days. In fact, Kang Tae Jung is also close with her mother and sister and them as family grew stronger given they had a shared past of darkness which they have overcome and been living together.
Friendship is another device that's nicely utilized in the drama. Starting from the all guys trio of Young Do, Ha Neul and Seung Won that showed the essence of long term friendship, then Da Jung, Eun Ha and Ga Young, the all girl trio that showed how people befriend strangers at different stages and various situations.
Brother-sister relationship, idol/actor dating life, after effects of long-term dating and breakup, professional life in Police Station, Hotels and Hospitals, bonding between employee and employer, etc are some other notable relationships portrayed in the drama. And, as I have already mentioned, the arcs of all the side characters are very well done. That's what also wins points for this drama.
The thriller plot ended right before the finale so it was kinda relieved and I love the ending as well, just like a warm pure romance drama should end. I was actually afraid things between Da Jung, Young Do and Da Jung's mother will turn somewhat typical family drama in the last 2 episode but thankfully it didn't happen. The level to which my heart has been healed by this drama, by crying, laughing and smiling wide is unexplainable. I am very happy about that.
Last thing I would like to add is how some people are complaining that there is no chemistry between the leads at all. Let me tell you that, the kind of romance and chemistry we see in pure romance are all almost the same whereas this drama seem to have tried a different approach. In real, every other relationship is different, in fact the definition of love, dating and romance are different for different couples. Nobody needs to kiss, hug and be clingy all the times or even to keep saying cheesy stuffs to express love and prove chemistry. Morever, friendship between a couple should be the most important factor in a relationship so even if they act more like friends than couples, it's totally fine. Let's go beyond norms. Let's not set boundary for a beautiful thing like by forcing our own definition on others. Let's be open-minded and let people live their lives however they wish to.
CONCLUSION:
Overally this drama is a very nice. I already said I am not gonna judge or even think about the thriller secondary storyline but it anyways a part of the story that'll forever remain a demerit for the drama. Iwould have given 9.0/10 if it weren't for that particular thing but since it's already there I am going with 8.5/10.
I feel a lot of people, like literally a huge no of people are missing out by not watching this. I wonder why this ain't popular but again, thw answer is clear that it's not everyone's cup of tea. However, I wish more and more people start recognizing and appreciating such genre of warm pure romance, even so it's a gradual process.
I am definitely coming back to this drama again, whenever I feel like and I am the setting the rewatch value at 8/10. This drama truly is healing and warm. GO WATCH THIS PLEASE.
Was this review helpful to you?
Cotton Candy Romance
In Chinese, the terms 妹妹 (mei mei) and 哥哥 (ge ge) have double meanings - one refers to a sibling, the other can mean a lover. It is the mix up in the understanding and usage of the terms that has caused the hilarious misunderstanding of our naive characters that drives the plot. The love of one's sibling (platonic) and a romantic love can be confusing for someone who has never seen an opposite sex, let alone having a sister. This purity together with naivety leads to confusion and hilarious conclusions.For the Chinese, it is very common for an admirer calling the admired "ge ge" or "mei mei". Using such terms helps to reduce the embarrassment of being too blatant in a relationship especially if it's hidden, as well as reducing the barrier in the name of familial relationship. In this drama, these two terms are repeatedly and interchangeably used and construed by various characters for different meanings.
This story is a fusion of the modern world with the ancient xianxia world. Our Female Lead Shi Xia (Wu Qianying) has accidentally travelled to the xianxia world while searching for her brother Shi Dong (Dai Yunfan). There in the xianxia world she meets the immortal Hou Chi (Zhao Yingbo) and falls in love with him. Hou Chi has never seen an opposite sex, nor heard of the term “mei mei”, and has no clue what a “sister” is, for Hou Chi is the purest of the pure and has been trained for 200 years to take over the role of the united ruler of the universe. But adopting Shi Xia as his “mei mei” to love and to protect changes his life because he also falls in love with her.
I really like Zhao Yingbo’s portrayal of the Hou Chi character. Hou Chi does look like a piece of wood, drained of emotions on his face, lack of understanding of any worldly matters and human relationship. Though slow in his motion, he is not stiff, and he is intelligent and loyal. Therefore when he eventually gives the viewers a slight smile, we know he is truly in love. The actor has an untainted look as pure as a baby’s face, with his innocent mind asking adult questions, it is really a joy to watch.
Coming from a modern world, Shi Xia is as astute as any of today’s young adults. Wu Qianying’s acting here is not bad as a sometimes-rebellious little sister, and can be rather sweet and cute at times. She and Zhao Yingbo make a very adorable pair with great chemistry. I love Dai Yunfan as Shi Xia’s protective big brother. The dynamics he has with his little sister and her boy friend, Hou Chi, are funny and warm, and the confusing interchanging use of the terms “mei mei” and “ge ge” is hilarious.
My Verdict
This drama is silly but absolutely adorable. At first, I wanted to drop at episode 1. But I was like licking a cotton candy that I couldn't throw away because it's too cute and fluffy. There’s not so much of a plot here. Basically, Shi Xia tries to find a way back to her modern world and Hou Chi tries to become the ruler of the universe so that he can help send her back. Then there is a couple of not-so-evil antagonists who suffer mental illness because of their wrongful perception, and perish eventually. The OSTs are very pretty and calming, just like our Hou Chi character and his relationship with the first girl he has ever seen in his life. Despite all the flaws and stuff, I was rather enjoying it.
Entertaining! Great watch!
P/S Though this drama is listed as having 35 episodes, there is an extra episode that tells the modern life of our love birds. Don't miss it. It super funny, and cute.
Was this review helpful to you?
A different kind of pandemic
Much like how we’re all wearing our face masks to curb covid-infections these days, the folks in Dark Hole are doing the same but for a different outbreak - the kind that turns human beings into mindless zombies/ monsters/ mutants, though with varying effects for each person. So what makes this drama different from other similar stories and should you really be watching it? Let’s find out...What is it about?
On the surface, it’s another zombie/ monster apocalypse story that draws parallels with the likes of Kingdom, Sweet Home, Rampant, Train to Busan, and even Joseon Exorcist. I haven’t seen #Alive and Peninsula but based on the synopsis and trailers, they appear to share a very similar premise).
But where Dark Hole differs from the rest lie in 3 aspects:
- The original source of the infection is extra-terrestrial
- The method of transmission is via a rather ominous black smoke (as well as bites/ scratches, apparently)
- The intended purpose of all this, which I won’t spoil here (to be honest, I’m not completely sure myself)
It’s an inventive spin on a well-loved and long-established genre. South Koreans sure love their zombies.
The Plot
Far-fetched with seemingly endless sub-plots and countless characters. As far as apocalypse stories are concerned, this one infuses far more elements than I’ve noticed in other dramas. It’s set in modern-day South Korea in the small town of Muji. The scope of the story covers the entire town and in addition to the overarching mystery, we have mini character arcs, of which there are plenty. The notable action takes place at 5 main locations - the forest where the titular chasm lies, the local high school, the hypermarket, the municipal hospital, and one more which I won’t reveal to keep the suspense alive.
Speaking of story arcs, we have plotlines relating to a female police detective with a tragic past who is in pursuit of a serial killer who caused said tragedy; a “disgraced” former police constable with a sad family tragedy of his own which inadvertently resulted in his expulsion from the police force; a scorned female shaman who rediscovers her spiritual powers including the gift of precognition; a high school senior who is a victim of conspiratorial cover up pertaining to her father’s fatal accident, in addition to being bullied by her schoolmates led by a high school dropout who constantly harasses her. It doesn’t end there. Many more secondary characters with their respective mini arcs are featured throughout. The one thing most of them have in common, is their respective tragic backstories.
This drama is certainly not uneventful - the many characters and side stories make sure of that. The screenwriter is trying to interweave all these stories into the main plot but I think somewhere along the way, the overarching story very nearly got completely overshadowed. After a rather promising start with much potential, I found myself getting a little restless around the halfway mark. Having introduced the new characters into the story, their side stories eventually fizzle out without the slightest connotation of how they are connected to the situation at present.
For the most part, the script and characters are adequately written, with the main issue being that too many elements are included. Even for a 12-episode drama, it does feel a little dragged out with too many unnecessary sub-plots and characters. 8 to 10 episodes would have sufficed and probably 3 or 4 characters and their story arcs should have been left out. In the end they amounted to nothing anyway and I found myself hard-pressed to develop much, if any, emotional attachments to.
The Production
Dark Hole is an OCN production and billed as the fifth entry to its Dramatic Cinema Project, which is an initiative by the broadcast network to showcase the essence of well-made genres via productions that combine the format of movies and dramas. I think what this basically means is dramas that are the crème de la crème of OCN productions. I’m not exactly sure if this drama is deserving of that billing but for context, the first four entries to this project are Trap, Hell is Other People, Team Bulldog and Search.
The first ever drama directed by Kim Bong Joo, the screenplay is written by Jung Yi Do. Those familiar with his works would be aware that highly rated dramas Save Me and Strangers from Hell were written by him.
In general this is a decent production with regards to the technical aspects. The down-to-earth action sequences appear realistic while the use of visual effects in particular for “that thing” is appropriately utilized. The production design and use of multiple filming locations are seemingly well rendered. However, there isn’t much of a soundtrack or musical score of note to write home about. The stock music and sound effects used are serviceable for their intended purposes.
The Acting
One of the main reasons I watched Dark Hole, aside from the fact that I love this genre and to ease my bitter disappointment from seeing Joseon Exorcist being cancelled, is Kim Ok Bin. It’s my first time seeing her drama in its entirety. Having caught glimpses of her in The Villainess and other productions, I’m aware of her reputation and credentials as well as recognition of her previous efforts for which she has received a great many acting honours. For this drama, being the FL Detective Lee Hwa Sun of the Seoul Regional Investigation Unit, I have absolutely no complaints with her performance. Understated, nuanced, and charismatic, she is good value for her portrayal and I’m a new fan.
Lee Joon Hyuk is an interesting choice for the role of ML Yoo Tae Han, although at times his character feels more like a supporting role than the lead. I’m more used to seeing him in suits after Stranger 1 and 2, but he was convincing as a decorated soldier in Designated Survivor as well. He gives a satisfactory portrayal of his role here, where he does carry the persona of a likeable character who would be great in a leadership role during times of crisis.
The rest of the cast, including the child actors, give a decent account of themselves. Special mention goes to Oh Yu Jin who plays the schoolgirl Han Dong Rim. My first time seeing this 21 year-old actress, I thought she did a remarkable job in projecting the chilling aura of mystery and eeriness surrounding her troubled and complicated character, which is one of the few in the show that I truly relished.
Overall
In my humble opinion, Dark Hole is not the best in the genre. But if you’re a fan of zombie apocalypse stories or any of the cast or even an OCN follower, this drama might appeal to you despite its flaws. It doesn’t end in a cliffhanger and I doubt there would be a sequel or continuation to the story, therefore providing viewers with a closure where everything is neatly wrapped up.
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
The Dew Best Story
This mini series, where to start; I was smiling at the sweet puppy love crush, Best was having throughout the series. The friends also made me smile, one of the best of friends to have really, except Dew's acquaintance cause that rat sure isnt a friend. Anyways, War's acting was amazing as always, tore at my heart and squeezed it when it needed to be and Yin improved as well, actually bawled when he did so yeah bring tissues along for your binge. Shame it wasn't longer to really show off their talents with a HEALTHY COUPLE's storyline. Loved the chemistry between the friends as well.As far as production goes, I was a little annoyed at the missing subs especially at a crucial part, luckily fans in the comments translated it but hope they fix it for the future watchers of the series, the cast deserves the best. Would I watch it again? Yes. It's my favorite YinWar series they've done. Gonna miss Dew and Best. Spin off for Ray and Dave seems possible from the hints of something going on throughout...or a second season would be great.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Fascinating and disturbing
I already expected that I would have to say more positive things about this movie than the previous reviewers. Disclaimer: I feel like there might be several versions of the movie out there, I watched the official one on GagaOOLala.In short: I thought this movie was fascinating and somewhat disturbing, although not entirely satisfying.
Some background information on the movie would be helpful to better understand it. Sadly, I couldn’t find out a whole lot. I also don’t really know about the connections to “Bittersweet Chocolate”, as I have not seen that one. What I understood: the director wanted to pay tribute to classic Pink Films, a particular Japanese genre between art movie and porn. That’s also where the whole gangster/mafia background is derived from. Apart from some smaller Queer Film Festivals, the Movie had its probably most important screening at the Berlin Porn Film Festival, where they announced it as “probably one of this year’s most extreme movies” and explained that the director intended to portray a gay subculture obsessed with outdoor sex as well as a generation of women fascinated by gay sex. If anything, it can be derived from this background that the project was really ambitious. Most of it seems to have been done by the director himself in collaboration with his sister (?) and honestly, I am happy that there are talented actors like Gun Atthaphan out there willing to experiment with such projects, it really adds a lot.
Now, there are obviously things I did not like (or better: things I thought did not contribute in a positive way to the movie as a whole):
- The length. Two hours was way too long. If it had been filled with action (sex, torture, murder, whatever), I wouldn’t mind, but the overall pace of the movie was very slow. That is fine, but then you just need to cut it to a more digestible format. Many of the scenes could simply have been shortened, without cutting them completely, as they just went on for too long.
- The vagueness. By that I mean that there was a promising gangster story unfolding throughout the movie, but the hints given were too vague to understand it even in part. James and Mac had a talk about what? What deal did James and Cherry have? What happened to the drugs? Why did they keep Boy as a prisoner? The gang was dealing with drugs and offering sex work, but other than that the story did not explain any details.
- The character introductions. There were many interesting characters in the movie (and all actors were pretty good in their roles!), but the way they were introduced and how their screen time was split was really confusing. Gold Hair completely disappeared after the first scenes, James appeared rather randomly and Ladyboy and Big Boss were just thrown in somewhere.
But overall I did enjoy the movie. Positive aspects I would like to point out:
- The actors. As I said, they were all doing really well in their roles. Clearly, all of the characters had mental problems: Cherry was bipolar (and probably sexually frustrated), James a drug addict, Mac a BDSM addict, Boy was completely traumatised. I wish they had explored the Ladyboy and Gold Hair characters a bit more though. James got too little screen time, maybe because Gun did not agree to participate in more explicit scenes, but I really enjoyed his presence.
- The cinematography. The construction site was an amazing location for such a movie. The camera knew very well how to capture the scenery, both the buildings and the surrounding nature.
- The soundtrack. The strange drum beats during the explicit scenes and some interesting punk interludes fit very well with what was going on. The movie also wasn’t shy to work with long moments of silence.
- The story. Although I criticised its vagueness and its flawed character introductions, the overall messed-up story was fascinating. I think, with the few clear infos the audience receives, it can be condensed down to the fact that Mac was indebted with the mafia and worked for them as a prostitute. At the end he manages to quit and takes Boy with him, who he apparently fell for during his captivity, cutting ties also with the bad influence of his friend/partner (?) James. James probably kills Cherry for good and goes his own way (but he might also go after Mac and kill Boy as a witness of everything, who knows).
As I already said, I was not satisfied with the movie in the end. Less vagueness and better character introductions would have been great, and I also wouldn’t mind if it was even more “extreme” in some parts, that aspect wasn’t balanced very well. In any case, cutting it down to 90 minutes could work wonders. However, it is a movie that is ambitious, experimental, featuring good actors and giving a lot to think about. Definitely not for the mainstream, but I am thankful that such movies exist!
Was this review helpful to you?
