Stranger 2 : adequately fulfilling on it's journey to Stranger 3
Finally, it is all I could think at the start of Stranger 2, three years later, and it was captivating as I expected it to be, worthy of the over three-year wait. Having Lee Chang Joon's voiceover to start the episode was just brilliant. A reminder that the road to justice is long and rife with political tension. And, of course, where there is a crime to be solved, there is Hwang Shi Mok. I loved it. I always enjoy how he meticulously observes, sizes up a situation before questioning or jumping to conclusions. It was also thrilling to see Bae Doo Na reprise her role as Han Yeo Jin, love her with long hair, and Detective Jang. I love seeing them all at work; they click intuitively.It's always great to see a woman in roles typically given to men and Jeon Hye Jin at that. I couldn't wait to see what she brought to the show as the police and ever-powerful prosecution office fought over independent investigative authority. I've always thought it quite weird how the prosecution had sole jurisdiction. So, I was interested to see how the fight would go down and how it would affect Shi Mok and Yeo Jin's fight against injustice. I am always ready when it comes to these two. And of course, Stranger 2 did not disappoint in how it tackled all the issues it presented, from coverups to police and prosecution corruptions to the embedded unscrupulous accepted and worse expected societal norms that hurt more than they help in junior/senior to rich/poor treatments and relationships. And I think what I find hardest to reconcile since I started watching k-dramas is that exactly -- the disappointments in the embedded unscrupulous accepted societal norms.
I loved the many twists and turned in this second installment but, more so, how differently the whole team handled the second season. I was glad to see that it was not a sequence of the first but rather a continued effort to justice's long and politically charged journey. And to see that journey can to an emotional ending as it hopefully continues to its next chapter to an incredibly penned, directed, acted, edited, and produced drama. The beginning and ending words of Lee Chang Joon sum season 2, SM and YJ, entirely—“Doggedly chasing after the truth and marching towards what’s right is a never-ending process. To stop for a moment is to fail. Marching towards change is like having two needles on your feet, with an invisible thread trailing after you, never stopping for breath as you march on. In the belief that a sliver of hope is better than immeasurable despair, we move forward with every determination once again.” This drama called attention to how arrogance, ignorance, and incompetence can, in mere seconds, bring down one’s life work (Chief Choi and Prosecutor Tae Woo). But at the same time, it showed us that one should never give up hope; it’s the light to a better and more fulfilled future for all involved. “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” —Desmund Tutu.
As sad as I was as excited for how it started and ended—strong and proud. I especially revered Chief Prosecutor Kang Won Cheol for standing tall for what matters most and putting his juniors before himself; that’s a mark of a true leader. As they say, it’s only after you’ve stepped outside your comfort zone that you begin to change, grow, and transform. Chief Kang’s last act was a reminder that it’s easy even for the best of us to be swayed and lose our way, but the courage is in acknowledging it and getting back on track. It takes a lot of courage to do what he did. LYJ Hanjo’s leader’s reaction to his resignation said it all. She underestimated him for sure, and his final words struck her worse than if she’d been hit by one of those kdrama white trucks of doom. Undoubtedly one of the best crime dramas ever, now and forever. Solid character arcs, acting, development, and portrayals, even SDJ’s character. I cannot wait for season three, finishing what Lee Chang Joon started with a takedown of Hanjo Group. Shi Mok's dream at the finale for me captured everything Stranger 1 and 2 stand for— Hope. I will miss this drama until its next installment and highly recommend both seasons if you haven't watched them yet. Not one disappointing episode.
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Funny and Unique role
Absolutely best show that I ever watched in historical drama. This is the best Chinese drama the story is cute and fun. Please don't kill the two main role, I love to watch them happy together at the last episode. Please make it more calm and enjoyable. Good story telling, good character, I love the scenery and the voice quality.Was this review helpful to you?
1A rainbow of colours that disappeared too soon.
Well. We finally reached the end of the rainbow.~~Story~~:
- Issues originating from the episode/drama lenght
My main complaint with the story is that like many others I do see the missed potential because of its short lenght. The ''color rush'' novel has content which the drama-version completely skips which is unfortunate. Because of this, some of the seemingly important plotpoints never get resolved or get wrapped up very quickly. There was also the issue of strange scene transitions which made some viewers confused about the timeline of the story. Then there was also a plotline that consisted of a few sentences spread around episodes which a lot of casual viewers easily missed. This all would've likely been handled much better if the drama was given more episode lenght/more episodes.
-The rainbow CGI
Whether you liked or disliked the rainbow CGI, I thought it was an original addition. I would definitely recommend people with sensitivity to bright flashes to be careful during the first few episodes. We got a look into the world of YW/the main character and I appreciated that. I wouldn't have minded if they actually went full black/white for the whole show for full immersion but I understand that's not as appealing for the general audience.
-The universe of color rush
The addition of the ''colorverse'' with probes and monos was interesting to me. Monos essentially are very much like humans but their urges for colour (or love) are something that only rarily occurs in humans and reflects addiction. Probes and Monos are basically soulmates with a catch to it because if it doesn't work between them, bad things happen. That hidden darkness element remains with the story up till the end and provides some of the mystery element for the show. I do warn against watching the 7th episode if you're sensitive to darker subjects.
All in all, highly enjoyed the addition of such a unique plot to a BL webdrama and again unfortunate that it couldn't be fully explored due to time constraints.
~~Acting/Cast~~:
Both the actors of YW and YH (main couple) did a good job. There's not a sense of natural chemistry in the sense of being comfortable with physical touching but this drama chooses to focus on different things. The tension between both actors was very present in a lot of scenes by the way they look at each other or their small interactions. The characters treat each other like fragile goods and that has a charm to it too. Also, the YH character (mask-guy) really knows how to act cute and its a shame we didn't get to see more of that.
~~Music~~:
It was fun to listen to. I also liked the calming BGM during a Color Rush event. All in all it gave the drama a bit of a surreal yet calming vibe and that was perfect for it. Like you're in a different but beautiful universe.
~~Rewatch Value~~:
I would rewatch it for the cute moments between the main couple and I think if you are the type to skip through the first episodes a lot then you'll be rewatching it too cause again those plotlines can be 1 sentence or you miss it.
All in all its a 7.5/10 for me. Definitely not for everyone but it was a refreshing take on a Boy Love story to me.
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Complicated Story
A film doesn't have to be morally right to enjoy or be entertained. It's just like watching a series where the protagonist is a robber or a criminal.Yes, what the ML and FL have can be called cheating. The heart transplant can't be an excuse. But I still enjoyed it. The sceneries, the acting, the plot, the story flow, I love everything.
I searched if it is really possible to inherit the heart donor's memory. The answer I got from the internet is what this series also explained. I'm amazed.
So, I think the viewers should not rate a film base on their morals. The quality should be the basis here. It's actually boring to only watch about good people. I want to slap and curse the main characters too.
Well, it's just my opinion. But if you're not into this kind of complicated story, just don't give it a try.
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A Simple Story with Depth
When you first read the anemic synopsis , you can't help feeling like you've seen this exact plot summary play out multiple times in a plethora of different languages, timelines, and nameless faces . It then becomes difficult to stifle the incoming yawn once you realize that this drama is going to be set in a slow and meandering sea side village, and that the drama is going to attempt to use a character driven plot to keep audiences glued to the screen.You find yourself tempted to skip Hometown Cha Cha Cha for the next generic Kdrama on your Recommended List. But then you decide to watch one episode. That felt great, light and breezy you think, and so you play the next episode. That felt even better you thought to yourself! Then you realize there are no more episodes... you are in trouble... this simple drama set in the tiniest of fishing villages has entangled you and a million of other fans in an endless loop of hungrily waiting each week for the next episode of a drama that has very little plot twists, dark mysteries and shock factor; and yet somehow has inexorably entranced a legion of Kdrama fans in it's simple story.
Don't let the simplicity of the story fool you though, as there is plenty of depth to be found in this drama. Hometown Cha Cha Cha aims to keep the audience hungry with it's strong character driven plot, and succeeds heavily in this regard. The time the drama takes to develop it's supporting characters with ample screen time and character depth are rewarded in the latter half of the drama as these characters, that would be nothing but fillers in any other drama are given life, their names carrying more weight, and their presence offering soothing support for the Main Couple of the story. No longer are these supporting character left to be skipped and forgotten but rather they serve as a blend of different characteristic that serve to enrichen, and color our black and white sensibilities in warming palettes that we can see and feel.
The writing of the plot, the direction, even the light and melodic OST all serve as the backdrop for these top rated thespians to showcase their crafts. Whether it's the has been singer, the nosy neighbor, or the tireless mother, these talented actors and actresses break out of the mold of the stereotypical kdrama side characters to breathe life into these tired and comfortable cliched characters that would be caricaturized with a lesser plot or thespian. The has been singer becomes multi-faceted, the nosy neighbor gains depth, and that one tireless mother makes our eyes swell with tears, as her quivering voice mask the inner cracks forming within.
The ultimate purpose of the development of the characters of Gongjin became apparent in the midway point as the supporting character's stories start to intertwine and intersect with the story arc of the main couple. Similar to theatrical plays like Hamilton, the audience is almost subject to an invisible fourth wall of which none of the Gongjin inhabitants are privy to. We see ourselves jumping from the life experience of one character after another, almost as if we are all encapsulated within the show, bearing witness to this beautiful romance blooming in this tiny seaside village.
The chemistry of the two leads is electric. From the first episode till the last episode, you can't help but root for the main couple as they both try to fight feelings that clearly has bubbled over since they first set eyes on each other. Although there is a love triangle inserted briefly in the show, it's actually the main couples personal trauma that initially keep them apart at differing times of their relationship. Maturity is as the forefront of this drama, as most situations are dealt with the way that you would expect mature adults to act. Although there are scenes of skin ships in the show, it's actually the scenes where you see silent understanding between the two main leads that sets hearts fluttering. And with Kim Seon Ho's masterful use of micro expressions, a silent three second gaze speaks more volumes than the boisterous and often used "Sarang Haeyo". One of the most powerful scenes in the show is Hye Jin, slowly walking, slowly realizing her feelings for Dusik.
We are mesmerized by the beauty of both the ML and FL. Their laughing eyes, their toothed smiles, and their dominant dimples; all these things play a role in making us gently take a seat and enjoy the sea side ride. But as each episode further shows cracks in the main couple, we start feeling guilty in our comfortably relaxed position, as we start seeing tears behind those laughing eyes, cracks showing between those toothed smiles, and dark depths in those dominant dimples. We start realizing that all that happiness, all that selflessness may be hiding a tale deeper than we had anticipated when we first start to step into Gongjin. Just like Hye Jin's shoes, we feel we are safely in the white sandy beaches, unknowingly to us, when we look down, the tide has come in, and with it a tale of sadness, and a short snapshot of the importance of mental health and a proper support system.
Where I feel the drama may have stumbled is in the unnecessary tonal shifts in the last few episodes. But the drama ends on a high note, and the last few mediocre episodes is not enough to sabotage more than 14 episodes of good will. In reality, this is a drama caught in between. It should have either ended after 12 episodes, or it needed 20 episodes to properly flesh out the emotions and character development to properly close Dusik and Hye Jin's arc. But since the last few episodes was rushed to close as much plot holes as possible, the tonal shift felt out of place and disjointed, almost felt like watching two different dramas. The maturity and depth of the first 10 episodes start to dip in the remaining episodes, and it suffered from slightly inconsistent characterization. Of course, all these tonal shifts can be defended and explained in ones mind, but I actually much preferred the easily digestible characterizations the Main Couple had in the first 10 episodes, that the back 6 paled in comparison.
Is this drama a perfect drama? It is not. But if watching Hometown Cha Cha Cha has taught me, is that just because something is not perfect does not mean it isn't good. Just like a Mcdonalds cheeseburger can seem like a gourmet meal to a starving man, in a time when many people are healing from the mental and physical strain of the Pandemic, Hometown Cha Cha Cha is that perfect drama that captures so many different emotions and situations that we can all find something to relate and heal from.
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An Unexpected and Unforgettable Experience with Xianxia Drama
Rather than a review, this is more of telling an experience. There I was, one night, trying to kill time watching some random shows on Netflix when this series popped up in the recommendations. "Ah~ A xianxia drama", I thought. I NEVER succeed in watching one xianxia drama, not even the infamous Eternal Love & Ashes of Love. I'm more inclined towards realistic period dramas without a shred of fantasy eg. Princess Weiyoung and Yanxi Palace. So, with absolutely no expectation at all, I watched it thinking I'd never make it till the end of the first episode. The lore in the prologue just flies over my head.Oh, how wrong I was. The CGI is awesome and not cringy at all. CGI in xianxia dramas has always been the element that made me not giving xianxia dramas a chance. I know a lot of xianxia dramas have good storylines despite bad or borderline good CGI, but I rather not watching those dramas if I can't find myself enjoying them. Another thing that amazed me is the actors' and actresses' gestures, postures, hand and body movements look so natural in scenes such as conjuring spells, flying and fighting which required layer of CGI. The actors' smooth action scenes, topped with good CGI, ended up look so natural and satisfying. Though, truth be told, it's maybe because I'm not exposed to other xianxia/wuxia dramas.
The cliff hanger by the end of the first episode is enough to make me hooked. Other than the prologue at the beginning, the drama focuses its first few episodes on the introductions of the characters, especially the main leads, Xuanji and Sifeng, and this is where I applaud the drama for making me invested. Keeping the lore on minimum, and focuses on the characters establishment first. Convoluted lore is another xianxia element that tires the hell out of me. I want to know the characters and watch their interactions first rather than digesting a lot of information but not enjoying the characters interactions.
Getting over these two main obstacles, watching this drama is such a smooth-sailing experience for me. I'm a hardcore masochist when it comes to a tragic love story, and this drama totally delivers the angst I'm looking for. Misunderstandings, heartbreaks, deception and tragedy are a common staple for this genre. Many would state that they are sick of it, but for most viewers, me included, these tropes are drugs that made them addicted and cannot take their eyes off the story. To each his own.
Each character in this story has their own arcs, and they serve their own interests and move towards their own missions and ambitions. I liken the story arcs like the main quest and side quests in a game. All of them are laid perfectly throughout the drama. The closure this drama gives towards all characters is also a major satisfying point to me. Revelations are laid at a timing when it perfectly coincides with suspicions. Plot twists are done so well, it's been so long since I was so moved and shocked with plot twists occurring in a drama.
Now, how could I leave the fundamental core of this story? The romance between Xuanji and Sifeng is definitely one that I could never forget among a lot of main pairings in other dramas. Many argue that Sifeng sacrifice a lot more compared to Xuanji, and it definitely true to some extent. But Xuanji's growth from a naïve and childish character, to a person who knows how to love despite still being gullible, to recognize good and evil despite their backgrounds is something worthy of respect. Despite few mistakes, Xuanji can never be who she is at the end of the story without Sifeng from the very beginning. I thoroughly enjoy watching their sweet moments and it certainly made those frustrating times worth it.
Of course, each drama has its own downside and this one cannot escape from that. There is one misunderstanding that went too long for my liking and I can't take some scenes in episode 50++ seriously no matter how much I watch. The OST placement at the beginning of the drama is awkward and I just can't help but laugh. Alas, the enjoyment I got from this drama outnumbers the dissatisfaction.
As someone who got into this drama blindly, I'd never expect myself to be this invested. Still cannot move on from this drama, I kept searching for BTS videos, listening to OSTs and watching FMVs.
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A continued mix of annoying and frustraing
Disappointing. The intimate scenes are hot, sure, but the main relationship and story overall left a lot to be desired. Watch the love scenes on YouTube and save yourself the time and emotional frustrations of this show.The character Pat is annoying and Jeng is frustrating.
Pat is whiny and rude, his character "development" is too little and too late. I personally understand the difficulties with emotional disregulation, but the struggle to manage strong emotions does not excuse thoughtlessness, obstinance, self-centered-ness, and a "oh poor me, everything is unfair" attitude. And "being cute" is not enough to make this character really likeable.
I do appreciate that Jeng tries to evolve the way he behaves with others once it's pointed out to him. The struggle to change something so ingrained was portrayed fairly realistically.
The boss and subordinate dynamic in this show stayed uncomfortable. This is where the frustrations with Jeng's character comes in. (More below)
For a healthy, sweet, and realistic-feeling boss/subordinate BL I recommend The New Employee, a 2022 Korean drama. It doesn't have intense intimate scenes like this show, but I found it overall so much more satisfying!
Generalized SPOILER regarding this show's relationship dynamic & why it was frustrating:
The boss & subordinate relationship is poorly handled by both characters, but especially Jeng, the boss, who is also much older. I was so frustrated that he didn't take any proactive steps to protect Pat socially and professionally. As time went on it felt like Jeng repeatedly purposefully put off thinking ahead and planning for a future where they could both succeed together. Instead focusing on just getting what he wanted with Pat romantically without caring about any ramifications for Pat.
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You'll meet one of the wackiest drama husbands/dads ever. Best way to describe the guy is to imagine the bombastic personality of somebody like say … Hugo Chavez, only he's Korean.
He runs his household with an iron fist and expects full submission from his wife and daughters, but there's no doubt that he loves his family. In fact, he's close to perfect husband material in many ways, but a dictator nonetheless. He, along with his wife, are the highlight of the show, believe it or not!
Fans of the very cute Song Joong Ki will not be disappointed. He and his lady love are an equally humorous duo, esp in later episodes.
As the series progresses it delves into more melodramatic territory which takes away a bit of its charm. The story meanders into a repetitive mess of parental blackmail & coercion, relying heavily on a series of coincidences and contrivances that would make even a 6 yr old scoff.
I did not care for the Kim Bo-Ri story arc, much of which consists of making mountains out of molehills when her situation was easily resolvable.
Moreover, she was the typical innocent, naive ‘country girl comes to the big city’ type heroine with noble idiocy that you see all over dramaland. I didn't hate her, but I didn't care for her either. Throughout the show I kept wishing she’d go away; sadly she remained to the very end. I much preferred the confident and warm-hearted Jang Inho (though you never did see any tears when she cried! lol).
A few aspects of the show compromised my enjoyment:
The drama details the important role of fathers in Korean society. I found this notion of single fatherhood novel because in a strongly patriarchal society where women are upheld as the sole caregivers, it serves to show that men too are just as capable of nurturing children. Confucian values that permeate Korean daily life, those of strong family bonds and honouring one's parents/elders, are also explored.
You’ll fall in love with Kim Sung Soo as the disillusioned, down on his luck single dad struggling to provide for his children. KSS didn’t really convince me with his acting, but his character was nevertheless wonderful here. The only ‘nice guy' hero I’ve seen in a long time that gets my full love and support without reservation.
Now obviously if I was looking for shows which espouse Western values I wouldn't be watching Asian dramas, but the show presented a few cultural and social mores that were a bit hard for me to swallow.
First and foremost, the parents in this drama were appalling! (except Dictator Dad). Manipulative, coercive; blackmailing their children with threats of disownment and suicide if they didn't do what they say, was their default approach to EVERYthing. I couldn’t fathom how in the world such callous & bizarre ultimatums constituted love, esp when your child is rendered utterly miserable as a result of your unreasonable, draconian demands. It made me dislike the parents … a lot; and these adult children too, to some extent, because they NEVER once tried to take charge of their own lives. Not even a little bit. I’m not saying they should turn against their parents, but certainly some form of protest, defiance, a rebuttal even, would have seemed more credible than complete surrender in the face of being treated like objects rather than human beings?
Basically, this story is all about parents constantly denying their grown children the right to manage their own lives. Over and over and over again for at least 30 of the 54 episodes.
Secondly the drama misleads its viewers in 2 major ways:
1) Halfway through the lead characters are switched. So you start out thinking one particular couple is the focus of the story … you root for them and fall in love with them … only to see their screen time gradually reduce to barely 5 mins of the 1+ hr runtime. dafuq? This particularly annoyed me because I could care less for the couple who took over the spotlight.
2) For the vast majority of the show you'll be shipping certain couples only to be blindsided by the end of the drama. I hate, hate, HATE when writers pull these stupid ass stunts. HATE. IT. To avoid disappoint, don't take too much of what you see in this drama at face value.
Last but not least while romance was constant throughout the drama it was exceptionally DRY. Please tell me how many times can you hug someone as a show of affection when you're supposedly passionately in love? I know there are strong censorship laws in Korea, but certainly characters can show affection for someone they claim to be madly in love with without locking lips (or resorting to one lame ass hug after another)? Writer-nim, PD-nim, how about tender kisses on the forehead, kissing the hand of your loved one, nuzzling the face, jump into his arms lean your foreheads together & stare deeply into one another's eyes, walking arm in arm, cuddling on the couch etc? It IS possible to create authentic intimacy without blatant sexualization. I guess I'll never get used to Korean prudishness as shown on their TV...
In closing, I simply can’t get on board with the overall moral of this story. First, we’re no longer living in Silla. If you’re an adult in modern society you should have some say in how you live your life. After all your parents aren’t going to keep you warm at night or satisfy your sexual desires. Second, making sacrifices for one's children is inevitable and a natural part of being a parent. Nevertheless, biological parents shouldn’t be together at all costs just for the sake of a child. Even when you’re a parent it’s not healthy to neglect your own wants & needs ... as long as doing so doesn’t compromise the physical and or emotional health of the child. You only have one life to live, and if you’re happy, likely your kid will be too. JMHO.
Despite these complaints, I DO recommend My Precious You to family drama lovers. Is it perfect? No, but it's worth watching at least once, esp if you’re used to or no longer suffer from culture shock regarding the issues expressed herein. You’ll enjoy the family warmth, the comedy and all the secrets are revealed at an even pace so things don't get too drawn out in that regard. If you’re still a drama newbie like me this drama will be enjoyable if you go in knowing what to expect. That way things don’t come across so shocking & bizarre. It is in this capacity that I hope this review has been helpful to you.
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This review may contain spoilers
always choose the 2nd lead!
1st of all I have to say, I'm a huge fan of both SYJ and KKW, but I'm not biased when I say their acting performance was amazing!I'm not sure if they were purposely "obvious" cuz they just wanted the journey not the shock value, or if it's just as I call it "mystery genres are dead"
I have lost hope in all crime genres and mysteries, it's been atleast 5 years since I thought a twist was shocking or revolutionary so it's nothing new for a twist to not faze me, and indeed I saw through it all but still it was a great watch
now for the story, to be honest, with stories like this there's always 2 options; it's real or it's fake. we've seen so many stories about having visions of the future so it's not that shocking to see her believe it, but I'll say the writer played it too safe by making all the "unfortunate" events around girls and worse, those girls didn't talk
so the only outcome is, memories, ie recalling which shows how a good title can atleast hide the plot, or they never intended to
so basically their plot twist was obvious, they wanted to make us doubt Seon Woo because that's where it usually leads to, the girl who forgets and the killer who pretends to be her husband, Secret Obsession had that plot to T. so even if the 1st time it seems "twisty", I knew they weren't going there..
also, actually the point I liked this was how obviously Seon Woo loved her. though as an actor I know he can pull both the sweet and the dark so I didn't doubt him as a serial killer but it was a nice subtle touch. as if to say "never doubt him"
also the fact that Yeom Hye Ran came and heavily implied that her husband abused her was a clear sign, also the way Seon Woo acted when he finally got caught, as if he was begging Soo Jin to believe his lies..
now the only thing that shocked me was how Ji Hoon was alive xD I thought that was another recalculation leading to the moment she got hurt, but it was wrapped up too fast and I hated how they had to kill Seon Woo cuz you know, he killed before and he's a main so he can't have a happily ever after
so I refuse to acknowledge that ending and will think they both finally fled their misfortunes and lived happily ever after
ok, I'll complain more on how both events would've been "self defense" so they reeeaaalllly didn't need to hide it or even worse bury a live body..
the ost was basic but I appreciated the low volume on the chewing, and I'd actually want to rewatch this but I would want the fire and hospital scene cut xD
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The story of this movie was cliche, but who the heck cared. It was entertaining and fun to watch. And it contained one of my favourite themes childhood love *swoon*.
Acting I gave it a 10. Moon Geun Young, that girl knows how to act. She played the 15 year old so well (when the movie was shot she was actually 17, I calculated it out of curiosity). Kim Sae Ron, he was soooooo funny in this movie. One of favourite part with him was when he confronted the guy that Boeun was dating, that was just LOL. OMG and the scenes involving them two, were just hilarious.
Music I gave it a 8 because seriously I wasn't paying attention to it. Though at the karaoke scene where the each leads sing a song was no coincidence. Production crew I see what you did there.
Overall I gave this movie a solid 10/10. And I would rewatch it again for sure.
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This was my first time seeing any of these actors. I would very much like to see the actress that played Go Ho do another rom-com. I thought she was quite good. I was also taken with the main male lead. He was quite cute at displaying his jealousy for Go Ho. And I think the chemistry between the leads was believable. I didn't care as much for the second lead, as he just didn't convey any emotion in my eyes. The other side characters, vying for Go Ho's affections are interesting and keep it fun.
The music didn't stand out much, but suited the mood of the scenes.
I think this is a good weekend watch and wouldn't even mind seeing it again.
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It didn’t need 20 episodes
This drama really didn’t need to be a 20 episodes one. Started strong with potential but became flat at the end.It is supposed to be more romance-centric yet there isn't enough romance after the first half of the drama. The focus shifted to some weak power struggles and became unnecessarily draggy.
The last 6 episodes especially, the storyline really gets dragged out. Suddenly there’s an addition of Ha Kyung and her one sided love towards the king (whom she doesn’t know is a lady). The whole ha kyung + king story is really a bad filler, with no value adding to the whole storyline.
Towards the end, the drama tries so hard to inject more complications and depths by bringing in lord Wonsan (who wants the throne), forcefully putting back lord changun (who came back from afterlife briefly and died once again) and injecting more “power struggle” plot into it but imo has failed terribly. The petty little acts to expose the FL as a lady by lord wonsan and people around her just seem… lame? Instead of putting in more power struggle plays with bigger plots and schemes, they focused on the whole exposé of the FL’s gender.
The whole “evidence collection” to bring down lord sangheon also gets so dragged out and got very slow which after a while began to feel exhausting to watch.
The ending? I don’t even know where to begin. The writer could include pointless brief scenes like the dream of FL & ML getting married but they can’t even be bothered to explain why the FL survived the “poisoning” scene but her grandpa died. We can probably infer from the earlier scene that it most likely got to do with the pill she ate before drinking the tea, but isn’t it important to include a short explanation to bring the whole story to a full circle?
I also cannot grasp why they didn’t expand the backstory of ML’s dad (inspector jung seok jo) a little. Granted, the ML's dad is not the lead and this drama is to be more of romance but I mean throughout the drama, there were many parts where they hinted that there’s more to this than meets the eye regarding why the ML’s dad is so cold hearted and so compliant towards lord Sangheon? If they are not interested in expanding his character then those scenes were quite pointless. There were many scenes that hinted viewers about his past, where he mentioned about how the choice is only available to people born in nobility and not people like him. And how he showed sadness when his old friend commander yoon got killed (he even told his subordinates to stop firing those arrows)??? And the scene where he was dying, ML SAID HE HAS STH TO TELL HIS DAD THAT HE HAS NEVER GOTTEN TO, but there were go again, it stops there and the ML NEVER got to reveal what he wanted to tell his dad? What’s with all these little missing details???
The bodyguard character and his backstory also showed so much potential. Kim Ga On got close to the FL (&her father, the ex king) to assassinate them to revenge for his father (the royal preceptor whom the king and crown prince (FL’s twin brother) had loved back then) who was framed for treason and executed due to lord sangheon’s schemes. After finding out that the king and the FL’s twin brother had loved his dad, he ditched his assassination plans and helped the FL instead. The initial build up to him was interesting where there was some mystery to his identity but the final great reveal really fell so flat.
But then again we have time to go through Ha Kyung’s life as a commoner at the end… for? By this time I’m sure most viewers already forgot about her existence since she has already been granted leave from the palace after her dad has been found to have colluded with lord sangheon. But no, the writer HAS TO include her again where she mentions about why she prefer being a commoner??? This bit of airtime could have been used to help other stories develop / come to a full circle.
In all, the drama started rather strong and showed great potential with but ended up getting flat towards the end.
I did enjoy the first half of the drama though. The kid actors did well with their acting. The king’s chubby eunuch was a joy to watch too!
The goods:
- great main FL, they really casted the FL well. She’s a major girl crush! She can look so fierce and suave in male clothing and then so beautiful in her female clothes!
- good OST
- first half of the drama was well paced
- they managed to keep good characters like court lady Kim & bok Dong from dying
- consistent support provided by lord jaeun who stayed true towards FL
In all, if you Stan rowoon, and appreciate good acting and great FL, this is a drama that you can pick up but probably need to bear with some draggy parts towards the end.
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all my senses tell me I'm attracted to you
Let me just say. This drama feels more like a film project than a kdrama, and that is all meant in the best way.
I can't emphasize enough just how aesthetically pleasing this show is. The cinematography right off the bat is stellar, this drama simply isn't shot like any other k drama. It is done in a way that emphasizes scenes to be more intimate, intense, vulnerable, etc. With two episodes alone, and even with a first few seconds to the opening alone I can tell how every scene, every look, every thing is intentional in this drama. All the way around this drama is impressive because of that. I feel a lot of time and care because of how good the cinematography is, it feels intentional and that because the scenes and camera shots are.
For example of these scenes where it really shines is the shower scene, the changing room scene... I would get into them but I could go on and on all day.
This is just me telling you I feel bad for you if you don't watch this drama. It came out of no where it seems but it has a great start to it.
The acting is done so well and feels natural. The chemistry is so intense that I find myself holding my breath with most scenes between the two leads. Especially from the freshman, Ji Hyun. This is his first drama and he fits this role so well that I am watching without telling myself it is acting. It feels so natural and real, and Jae Won is the same. I can tell they both are attracted to each other, and I will see how they get together....... there is a lot I'm anticipating for this drama...
This is just a short and sweet review telling people to watch. This show I don't see as a BL, meaning to me it doesn't have the tropes and isn't selling itself out just because it is two males who will be together. This drama is like any other and is honestly better than most long k dramas I've seen. I don't even know what genre to call this other than excellent.
Let me just talk about the shower scene to emphasize how well done this show is:
So it is Jae Won's attraction that tells him to go. He isn't aware exactly what kind it is yet, but he wants Ji Hyun to shower with him and it gets across why pretty clearly.
The fact he tells Ji Hyun to come over tells me he is growing aware of how different his feelings are for him at this point. He tells Ji Hyun what is he going to do in the military if he is shy between them. To him they are both men, but also Jae Won just got out of the military. He just got done having no problem showering with other men, but now with Ji Hyun there is a problem. As soon as he realizes this he just leaves, and I found it so interesting because he was acting so confident before.. when he wasn't. I really thought the idea of him bringing up the military was so brilliant because it tells several things at once, it's efficient. That is why this drama doesn't drag on right now. It doesn't have to tell you in your face that Jae Won is curious and is getting confused about his feelings for Ji Hyun, because you feel them with him.
You are confused to why he would leave and can pick up on the fact that he is sort of being a hypocrite as he has been in the same positions like showering with others before. He is calling out himself really like he's trying to deny it.
I also really liked the scene of them walking across the shoreline together. Ji Hyun matched his steps with Jae Won's and that shows he pays attention to him and again begs the question why? It is curiosity I wonder how far that curiosity will take the both of them.
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Now to sum it up... I really need a continuation of this story. It is amazing as a standalone, but there is so much potential that has been set up in this season that can be continued upon. I think the creators are aware of the demand and am anticipating any continuation from them and everyone involved.
Watch this show as a melancholic romance. It has mellow vibes and isn't campy, but it has its fun moments. It isn't over satirized on one way or the other. It's realistic, moving, thought provoking, and smart.
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A group of rich families live in a high-class residential neighborhood called "Sky Castle". Wives manage homes and children while husbands work as important surgeons in the same hospital. Their biggest concern is to ensure that their children excel at school and the ultimate goal of their life is to have them admitted to the most prestigious universities SK. Once again a South Korean drama that talks about the pressing SK school and working system.
So what makes it different from the others, so much to have won so many awards?
There are three strong elements of this drama: satire, mystery and acting.
The lives of these families are shaken up by a tragic unexpected event, shrouded in mystery, this event will immediately capture the viewer's attention. Because of this event, a new family moves into the neighborhood, a family that lives more modestly. This creates new complex relationships and compares life and priorities between high-class people and common people.
The first part of the drama is divinely written, the daily life of these families intertwines with each other and is told to us in a perfect way with a mix of tragic and satirical, the characters are many and complex, often contradictory. The viewer will often find himself hating some characters, and then sympathize with them a few seconds later and laugh with them a few minutes later. Perfect acting certainly helps this variety of emotions.
Why I am piss then? Simple, the initial mystery dissolves immediately, the characters don't learn anything from what happened and they continue undeterred to hammer their children by dumping on them all their dreams and unrealized ambitions. The topic has been widely discussed and after 9 episodes the story has nothing more to tell about it, too bad that the drama lasts 20 episodes. Therefore it needs fillers, which arrive in the form of makjang, secrets of birth, bad mother-in-law, school tutors who hide secrets and trope related to the classic power struggle in the workplace (hospital).
Satire and acting are not enough to make up for a plot that has turned into lazy writing. Seeing a well written plot expire in the usual clichés has been frustrating and depressing. In addition I didn't appreciate at all a few sub-plots, in particular all the drama created by the neighborhood, when one of them wanted to write a novel, about the mystery that happened. Useless and roughly managed sub-plots.
Nothing to say about the cast, good work. Excellent idea but overall they have not been able to dare, offering less episodes but all dedicated to the characters and the consequences that the pressing South Korean society has on people and families. Avoiding all the trope and clichés.
Honestly speaking, I have too many dramas to watch in order to waste my time with the same trope.
From episode 10 I skipped a lot the clichè parts. At the end the drama had finally shown some characters development and the evil turn out to be who I initially tought.
Overall, between all drama that dealt with this topic and between all makjang, I can't deny that this is one of the best written, acted and executed. But I also can't deny that the drama lost his charm along the way.
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This review may contain spoilers
Damn good horror. I didn't yell at the characters too much.
As the tag indicates, there's some gore. Personally, it just makes me wanna gag so I just fast-forwarded through those. Blood and guts just don't do it for me, sorry.The atmosphere though? Nailed it. It's not a 'chills down my spine' effect. It was more of a dread that seeped under my skin and clung to my bones. Even when the settings were more comforting, lively, or even mundane, I was tense. They did well in keeping that consistent.
The usual horror tropes are here but I don't mind them as long as it's executed well. Characters who have never seen a single horror movie in their life? Check. Flickering lights? Check. A protagonist who can't catch a break? Triple check.
Moral of the story: Turn the car around. Go home. Live a long, boring but curse-less life.
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