I'd recommend watching both the series and the movie, it's worth it!
There are just a few points in which they differ from each other:1. The Inner Monologues:
What the movie didn't include are the inner monologues of Gook and Taejoo, which I really loved in the series. But what surprised me was, that even tho they left them out everything still works perfectly fine, just because of the amazing acting. You'll notice that even without words you can just read everything from their faces and that's honestly so impressive.
2. The Music:
The movie gives of a different vibe mostly due to the different soundtrack.
In my opinion it was a bit more intense and emphasized the emotions of the characters better in some scenes.
What made me a bit sad was, that the part of the soundtrack which I personally love the most wasn't present in the movie as much as it was in the series (I'm talking about 'Light' by KEUM JO). In the series it was playing at the end of every episode and I loved it so frickin much!!
3. The Transitions/Cuts:
The transitions were different cuz (obviously) they can't just mash everything together and call it a movie.
Some scenes where cut short while some were a little longer than in the series. And it honestly didn't bother me at all!
I think everyone can see how much thought they've put into how to assemble every cut/transition.
Everything just works together very well
I myself watched the movie after the series but I guess the order doesn't really matter! Both versions have their charm and are definitely worth watching!
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A good one-time watch.
For a remake/adaptation of a Japanese movie, the thriller component has been exhibited in a much better way. I've watched both the movies and this remake was definitely an upgrade. The actors acted well, but there was scope to juice out better scenes from them which could've looked way more intense.As a thriller movie it lacked the maniacal intensity a tad bit. Watching it the first time was a decent experience. It made for a nice watch while having dinner. But I don't think I'd rewatch it.
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Romantic movie when you need one
There is nothing new here- the storyline has been done before many times. But what makes it really work is the actors’ sweet, intensely romantic performances. The two leads have excellent chemistry. The music suits the movie, the sets work well, the supporting actors have little screen time but handle what time they have with ease. If you need something to remind you about the importance of treating our lovers with great care and romance here it is. Highly recommended for those snowy or rainy days to lose yourself in the feeling of being swept away watching a depth of love we all want to find and keep.Was this review helpful to you?
1'Cause I saw the end, before we'd began.
Zhousheng Chen pledged his life to protect the realm with an unbreakable vow to never marry or father children. Cui Shiyi, a peerless beauty 倾国倾城 (qing guo qing cheng) was promised to the Crown Prince from birth. He is her shifu, her master; thus any romantic relationship between them is forbidden. This kind of story never ends well - Zhousheng Chen knew it, Shiyi knew it and I knew it. Yet I fell helplessly down the rabbit hole with them and almost drowned myself with tears. I did not expect to be so moved or so heartbroken 'cause I saw the end, before we'd began. So be warned, this moving, legendary love story between the noble Nanchen wang and Shiyi is sad and unforgettable.This drama's production values are incredible from the movie aspect ratio, stunning sets, gorgeous costumes drenched in a soft palette that accentuates the beauty and ethos of the unspoken, unspeakable emotions that encompasses every loaded moment. The haunting and poignant OSTs are the only times their feelings and promises are verbalized. The lyrics are layered with meaning that compliments the beautiful prose of Mo Bao Fei Bao's popular novel 一生一世美人骨., that is woven seamlessly into the script.
I love how Mo Bao Fei Bao writes - her composition style is simple and profound at the same time and yet I am unable to finish the novel. It is set in the present, with Shiyi flashing back to their past. I simply can't relate to a docile modern woman with such ancient values, whose whole reason for existence is one man. The drama adaptation that starts with the past makes for far better storytelling as Shiyi is a product of her time, a Northern Wei noblewoman raised to dutifully abide by all the social strictures and expectations of the day. Underlying her gentle, serene expression, she is incredibly single minded ("my heart already belongs to someone, it will not change") and the imperceptible flashes of fury in her magnificent eyes says she is far from docile. Bai Lu interprets Shiyi brilliantly and brings her gentle strength and courage to life in a way that vastly exceeds the novel.
As for Ren Jialun, he is truly one of those rare actors who says it best when he says nothing at all. He never has to tell Shiyi how he feels about her, it it is evident in all the small gestures and most of all, it is in his eyes, in the sublimely romantic way he eyes her ever so longingly... and so regretfully. It emanates from the core of his being and breaks free from all of the constraints imposed by duty, responsibility and his toxic oath. With this mature, charismatic and substantive performance, Ren Jialun sheds his more youthful persona and proves his ability to compel in more complex roles that require some heft and gravitas. That said, I wish Zhousheng Chen wasn't quite so restrained; that they had given us at least one moment of temptation, where for once if only briefly, he forgets he is Nanchen wang so that they can be just Chen and Shiyi. If I remember correctly it is hinted heavily that there was one such moment in the novel. Nonetheless the palpable chemistry between the leads convinces that while not in deed, they are lovers in every other sense and meaning of the word. This captivating and shattering performance by both leads underpinned by their remarkable chemistry makes this slow burn, tragic romance a must watch.
Even though the drama adaptation attempts to better flesh out the past, the story's focus remains predominantly on the romance and that is where it shines. The external political plot is designed almost solely to either frustrate or facilitate the romance and thus does not bear close scrutiny. It is clear that political plots are not the screenwriter/novelist's forte although she does a credible job pulling together perhaps too many common tropes - rival clans, power struggles, Wu Tzetian-lite (brainless) and thwarted love rival wrapped up in filicide, murder and betrayal. Although all of the supporting roles including the villains are very well acted, there are many side characters who do not advance the plot and the inter-relationships and rivalries among the main clans and the consequent political dynamics are not well explained. And then there are characters like Yang Shao who conveniently pops up as alternately friend or foe as and when required by the plot. His motives and loyalties are not obvious and for such a poorly developed character, he gets to do some pretty important stuff. Neither villain is that complex and they both seize power without the means to secure the border and thus the empire without Nanchen wang. They are not intelligent or worthy opponents - even when they win, it is by foul means that lead to self destruction. Nonetheless, I watched this with a forgiving eye, mostly because I was too busy emptying my tear ducts to have the emotional energy to be bothered by the logic flaws.
This drama really enraged me at the end. The lovers' fates are well telegraphed from the get go so that is not my issue. My problem is with how Zhousheng Chen the character was mutilated by the writers at the end. The core of what makes Zhousheng Chen noble down to his beautiful bones is the conviction that his sacrifice, their sacrifice is worthy. And it is manifestly not worthy - he makes the same mistake twice of shoring up a ruler who simply cannot hold on to the throne and is bound to be a puppet. What it comes down to is he chose to save his bloodline and a bunch of worthless, doomed ministers at the cost of peace at the border, his beloved Nanchen army and Shiyi; leaving the country defenseless and in the hands of a sociopath. Even though the writers acknowledge they did him dirty when Shiyi piteously comes to the same damning conclusion and it just breaks her, how they wrote themselves into this corner is unforgiveable. It could have been avoided if the external plot were better configured to begin with and if they had the courage to change some aspects of the novel rather than simply writing to back-solve for certain outcomes. In doing so, they made an incredibly compelling case for Zhousheng Chen to just kiss the girl, revolt and seize power or to ride off with her in the sunset and defect to Nanxiao. He would still stay more true to character because that is what would have achieved the greater good instead of simply protecting his brother's legacy at all cost. Thus with regret that oozes from every pore, Zhousheng Chen foolishly forsakes both the common people and his Shiyi for the king and country that forsook him. There is no level on which this is a satisfying outcome and Zhousheng Chen deserves better than that.
Since I am ranting, I would add that I am not in the least consoled by the fact their unfulfilled love even moves the universe to give them another shot in the modern sequel Forever and Ever. First of all, this takes thousands of years. Secondly, if I were Shiyi, I would run, run, run, run, run AWAY from Zhousheng Chen after what he did. And finally, to get my much needed closure, I am really irritated at having to try to watch a darned modern romance, a genre I normally avoid like covid.
I still rate this a 9.0 largely due to mesmerizing performances by both Bail Lu and Ren Jialun, in their rendition of this love story that captured my heart and soul in a stunning depiction of 色授魂与 (se shou hun yu). I don't need to elaborate on what that means, it is there in every glance, every word, every interaction.
Postscript:
For those of you who need closure, there is a very well fan made alternate ending ending produced by industry professionals. I have fan subbed it and hidden it as a spoiler in the comment section of this review.
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Don't miss it
The reason i created an MDL account is to tell everyone not to miss this gem. This is one of those dramas that you think you'll just overlook since you think you already watch far too many school dramas. And you thought you can start it because theres no other thing to do on your spare time.But then you'll realize what a big mistake you've done because you havent start it sooner. The story of how you overcome challenges and see the world in a new light is what makes this drama so close to realty. The romance is not overbearing, its fluffy highschool love. Theres a strong sense of camaraderie and there are no unrealistic villains or unbelievable evil arc.
The OST is the best, i have not been impressed with cdrama OST since Go go squid until this one. And I know i will rewatch this again...
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Honestly beside Huo Wallace I did not know any of these actors and I have to admit that they were all doing a great job and their portrayals were so convincing and natural.
I'm not going to dwell on the synopsis cause it already says the most important but we surely all know the damages Wars cause(d) and I think it's interesting to see how Chinese people were living during those terrible times and what they had to go through. The drama focuses on the Hu Family and their son in-law Xue Jun Shan, how they coped with the constant Japanese attacks in their Changsha town. And even if my knowledge about the Sino-Japanese wars is weak I think this drama was really well done even the music here fitted perfectly with the general atmosphere.
Many things crossed my mind when I was watching the drama, first I said it earlier but I have to repeat myself everything was realistic and that was my very first thought, I loved to see that even if the Hu family was living a pretty good life (without being super rich either) but they did not wear extravagant and exquisite clothes they simply lived in harmony , enjoying their life in their house all together, eating, working, taking care of each other etc.
Frankly speaking the character that surprised me the most was Xue JunShan, he seemed to be very harsh with his in-laws but actually that was the opposite he cared for them he protected them, he loved them to the point to sacrifice his life for them, he considered them as the most precious things in his life and that is the reason why I loved him so much and why he is my favorite character + I have to say it, I have a thing for older men I found something very appealing about them and that is the case for him too <3
Now it's time to say a few words about the Hu family, Xiang Xiang was my favorite especially the way she evolves throughout the drama and I think that war would change everyone and according to me she's the one who changed the most, she became an outstanding and respectable woman, I have nothing bad to say about her, definitely lovely, bright, cute and very strong but she has a weakness and that is her twin brother I mean their sibling bond is so deep and unwavering, at least that's how I perceived them and I guess that is probably the same with almost all twins of the world.
I loved rhe other characters too especially Gu QingMing( I seriously fell in love with Huo Wallace in this drama, I liked him before but this time he blew me away <3), the grandma, XiangJun, Liu Minghan Xiu Xiu and the rest( I will stop here so if you want to find out why they are fabulous people just watch the drama you'll surely like it as much as I did ). I can't even count the tears I shed for all of these characters, I felt like I was part of their family, that's why Battle of Changsha broke my heart even more than other dramas.
As for the theme song ''I'll remember you'' it is a pure delight, Yang Zi's voice blends so well with Huo Wallace's that we can't stop listening to it and we want more and more. Too bad I can't seem to find it anywhere ! Please If you know where I can download it, tell me :D
I would recommend this drama to everyone even if you're not into this genre because that is not my case and still I enjoyed every minute of this wonderful show. Furthermore this is definitely one of the best Family drama I've ever watched. Just only one thing you must know if you plan to watch it: the last four eps are not subbed and so you would have no choice but to watch it raw or wait but for how long?!
PS: the big plus is that the actors's voices were not DUBBED, what a pleasure !
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This review may contain spoilers
NON-SPOILER OVERVIEW: I stand by my huge love for the first 3/4s of this drama. Though I was disappointed by the end, a large part of that disappointment came from the start being so good. Because despite the cliches, it's not a bad ending or anything like that. Against other romcoms I think it's above average, it just feels worse because of what came before. I still recommend it too! For the friendships, for the fluttering romance, for the unconventional story, for the way it feels like I'm watching real people. It's heartfelt and sweet but do be warned that the show you begin watching will not be the show you finish watching. Prepare yourself for averageness creeping in at around ep 12? 13? and you'll be fine! SPOILERS BELOW!
This review was so hard to write so to solve this confusion I'll just go by the trusted method: LISTS!
Things Done Well:
- JI HO (mostly). I related really heavily with Jiho at the beginning of the drama making me immediately attached. Plus her refreshing habit of speaking her mind so bluntly but not unkindly was literally the most innovative thing this drama did in regards to typical female kdrama leads so, props to them. I faltered a little when her big dream turned out to be love not writing but I realise that's just a personal thing so I won't judge much for that. I faltered MORE when her personality as established seemed to up & disappear 3/4 into the season? Why? Where did my Jiho go and who left this generic imposter in her place? Disappointing doesn't begin to cover it.
- SOO JI. Flawless. Perfect. Loving. Sexy AF but also cute AF. The duality of woman. We love to see it. Enjoyed her growth so so much from being v closed off & afraid of commitment to fully falling into it. From being afraid to catch her dreams because of her mum to daring to *because* of her mum. Unlike Jiho, she loses none of her personality and characteristics once she's in a relationship. Thank god.
- SE HEE. I'll just say it. Sehee's idea of a relationship/marriage - boundaries, respect, open communication and support & minus the guilt, expectations & empty promises that could lead to bitterness later - is exactly my idea of a relationship. I loved him from the moment he told Jiho's mum he wouldn't promise to protect her and it did not diminish the entire show. He's a little odd but I found that hugely endearing. Here's a personal ty from me to Sehee for now having someone to refer to when anyone asks me about my ideal man. Just throw in some of Sang Goo's dorkiness and I'll be hook, line & sinker.
- FEMALE FRIENDSHIP. These are women who unfailingly love, support and trust one another. No pointless drama. No high tension. No boring bitchiness. When I think of my friends I think of the kind of easy companionship and in-jokes that these three have and any scenes involving the trio were my absolute favourites.
- AN "ADULT" STORY. No I don’t mean x-rated lol. For once I watched these adults and felt like I was watching real adults and not (as many romcoms usually have) hormonal teenagers in adult bodies.
- HO RANG X WON SEOK. (mostly). Because they love each other they refused to see or talk about their incompatibility until it literally grew too big and awful to ignore. I really liked it because I believed their relationship and how it progressed. I say mostly because I'm unsure about their conclusion... I'm not against them getting back together, I just wish if that was their endgame they had broken up earlier in the drama so we had more time to watch them grow. As it stands, their break up this time was literally no different to any other break up except now Ho Rang has a chart. Wow. Growth.
Things Done Bad:
- Jiho & her characterisation falling off the face of the planet. Literally this was the worst thing the drama did because it made the finale boring. It also made me realise how much of the drama is built around how refreshing Jiho & her friends & Sehee are and with her gone it left the puzzle incomplete and me unsatisfied.
- Reduced Trio appearances. Like I said above, the trio and their scenes together were the best parts of the drama and towards the end the trio's screentime together pretty much disappeared. I HATED IT.
- The whole stalker storyline. I'll just link to my post about my thoughts on that mess: https://mydramalist.com/profile/kdramafeminist/feeds/WAN22I3
- Jiho's inner monologue going from through-provoking & interesting to nonsensical and pretentious.
- A story that began as something unique and avoiding cliches eventually devolving into the exact cliches it was avoiding. LETS NUMBER THEM!
1. FL speaks her mind? Nope, lets just have her being ~vague~ bc cliche!
2. Open communication between the couple? Nope, let's just have them not have a normal conversation outta nowhere and for no reason bc cliche!
3. Couple breaks up because their life goals don't match and realise love doesn't always mean marriage? Nope, lets have them back together after like a month with literally nothing changing regarding their individual life goals bc cliche!
4. ML is an introverted, dorky type and that's fine? Nope, let's give him a pointless, macho, hero scene to prove he's worthy as the lead! Bc cliche!
5. Current FL and ML's ex get along because the ex has completely moved on in life so working together is reasonable? Nope, let's have Jiho turn down the job offer because she chose "love" even those there was no tension on-screen between any of them, bc cliche!
Overall, I'm glad I watched it! I enjoyed more than I didn't but sadly its missteps means it won't be going into my favourites or mentions lists. The drama as a whole might not have stolen my heart, but individually it gave me amazing characters that 100% did & that's a compromise I'm fine with!
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What I liked about the drama is that it was refreshing and very scandalous, dark, unlike the usual mainstream dramas. It got me hooked because it was dark, realistically dark, the chemistry of the main leads was awesome, and no matter what the guy did I could never seem to hate him too much to stop watching it. The Love was twisted, at certain angles pure, but truly deep. Heartbreaking but amazing!
I know a lot might resist watching it because certainly one would have to cry and get attached but that's the beauty of this drama. That is what makes it so good, the journey that both the characters had to go through, and the complicated misunderstanding, one after another, that when we're left to uncover each one, we get to see the real characters, why they acted the way they did.
So I dare you to take leap of Faith and try this drama.
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Comedy thriller? yes!
Rarely can a writer successful combine comedy with mystery thriller. The genres simply don't mix well. Often, such titles suffer from Cerberus effect: they start funny, but when they turn serious halfway through, the entire setting built on comedic premises falls apart.Fortunately, Behind Your Touch (should be touch your behind....) avoids this pitfall. While it does get more serious later, the genre transition is very fluid, and it never completely divorces itself from its comedic roots.
The funny first episodes help us bond with the characters and introduce us to the setting, so then when the serial killing starts we can actually care about people who are killed while never being quite certain who to trust and who might be the culprit.
And what a masterfully written mystery it is! Until the very final episodes, I wasn't certain who dunnit. Watching this with MDL on week by week basis was quite an experience. I pity people who will watch this drama after it already finished airing, they will miss on all the brainstorming and speculah that kept us going all this time!
But of course, they should still watch it. This is legit my favorite k-drama of 2023. I didn't expect much, in fact, I didn't even anticipate this title until it suddenly aired on netflix, and I was very, very pleasantly surprised.
For people who say that premise of touching butt to see memories is creepy: relax, it's not done in sexual way, and she does it through clothes and she just touches their buttcheeks without fingering deeper or whatever you people imagine. There is no sexual abuse or anything! Give it a chance and see for yourselves!
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I WANT MORE!
What others think as its weakness, i think is its strength - for me the short length of the series is whats makes me yearn for more.Lets cut to the chase - lets discuss the good things. First is the story, yes its nothing out of the ordinary but the non-school/university is refreshing for a BL. I also like shows which dont try to explain everything as if viewers are kids. I also liked the pacing.
Second, the cute charismatic leads - have you seen Kang in Soo's body? Third, the soundtrack. Fourth, the production and the photography.
The only bad part i can think of is that they left me wanting more.
The last few Korean BLs were all short and sweet and all deserve to be expanded into full blown series. For now, im just glad that they are producing more and more of these and hopefully the day for normal Korean series featuring LGBTQ characters will come sooner.
Overall, an 8! Easy to watch, easy to rewatch.
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The story was quite new in the KDrama world, which I appreciated. And where else can you see the leads get married by the third episode? The first half of the drama was quite light, mostly centered on their romance while the second half had lots of angst and suspense. What this drama did well was weave the past, the present, and the future in which he traveled to into a clear and coherent storyline. Most of the show is actually foreshadowing, and finally in the last few episodes are the viewers exposed to what actually happened. It did build up suspense and intrigue, as you had no idea what would happen. It was unpredictable, but by doing that they lost a few people (and provoked lots of fan theories), but I promise if you stick with it, everything will build up to a satisfying end.
The acting was done really well on Lee Je Hoon's part. This was my first time watching any work of his and I was pleasantly surprised. I didn't particularly like Shin Min Ah's character, as sometimes I felt like she was unreasonable. Their chemistry was off the charts though, and perhaps because they were married early on in the series, we're given a ton of fanservice (aka steamy scenes). At first I was skeptical because the circumstances of which he married her wasn't the best, but soon you could really believe that they're in love. There isn't a moment where the music fades and the camera pans over their face in slow motion that tells you they've fallen for each other, but trust me you'll know.
I really loved the music. I think there were only about three main OSTs , significantly less than that of other dramas, but all of them fit the drama so well. They also played some beautiful piano instrumental tracks pretty often, which created a sort of gloomy mood befitting the storyline.
While I may not watch the entire drama over again, I would definitely rewatch some of the scenes.
Overall, I loved the way the story was told, despite the pace. I have to mention the color scheme again, because it was really genius and beautiful. Right off the bat, it helps you get into the solemn mood constantly reminding you of the overarching plot despite the cheesy happy scenes. I would recommend this drama for those who don't mind a slower storyline, because it's definitely worth the watch.
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Like many other real cruel stories another cruel story is made into film. This film is based on a rape case known as 'Na-young case'; in which an 8 year old girl was beaten and raped by an old man. I've a problem related to reality...
Now the problem is that the case is only 5 years old. Girl was 8 and now she's just 13 years old. Few years ago someone made a song on this & now this film caught lots of attention and I think it's extremely hard for family to overcome the trauma because of this film. Especially because this film came into light at the point where family was (probably) starting to forget this event. I'm not saying that it's wrong to make films on such cases but this film came too early.
I'll keep this short since I'm still buried under emotions.
Beginning of the film is very sad and can make anyone angry easily. It was painful to watch but those scenes don't last for long. After those painful scenes there is series of many beautiful scenes. Recovery of So-won (Victim), friends helping family, a lot of people trying to restart life of devastated family, family trying to be positive for future and make the daughter happier instead of crying over past that can not be changed. I loved father-daughter relationship most.
What I loved about this film is it's strength in stirring up emotions (of characters & our) in meaningful way. It's not like usual Korean films that force melodrama and turn into joke (Fly High, You're My Sunshine and many more!). Everything in this film is genuine...
Good:
-Genuine & unforced situations-emotions
-Great cast
-Music is excellent. I loved the long track played during recovery scenes of So-won.
Bad:
-Mistimed release (Related to reality, it's bugging me)
-I didn't notice any bad points. I was very busy in watching film.
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An Intelligent Romance Drama, Sweet but Lacks Sizzle
Excellent drama with intelligent dialogue and mature characters. Good story development. Good acting. Good chemistry. Motivational. Inspirational. More than a romance drama, this was a story of growth for individuals who had become trapped and stunted by their circumstances, both professionally and emotionally. This was true, not only for the main leads, but for numerous supporting characters as well. All of the characters were integral to development of the story. A very well-thought-out script.Admirable, capable FL character free of the babyish voice and cutesy nonsense you typically see in cdrama female leads. Angsty, straightforward ML, seemingly brusque and hot-tempered, but warm and honorable in reality. Both lead characters were outstanding and hard-working and exemplary. A real joy to watch their stories unfold.
An idealized romance where the partners are nearly always thoughtful and considerate and problems are handled quickly. A little too-good-to-be-true, but is exactly the stuff every romantic dreams of. Pretty much perfect for stress-free viewing. The slow-burn romance was well done with a comfortable vibe and natural, easy banter between the leads. But, it lacked fire and sizzle with only a few tame kisses and one love scene that, honestly, felt a bit awkward and could’ve been left out altogether as it seems Wu Lei isn’t entirely comfortable with these sorts of scenes yet.
“Sizzle” isn’t necessarily created by sexy love scenes and gratuitous skinship any way. That’s not necessarily what I’m looking for. “Sizzle” is created when there’s a heart-pounding energy between the leads that makes you want to watch and rewatch because their chemistry is so intense, almost palpable. I didn’t get that from this drama. While there were several swoon-worthy moments here and there, the “Nothing But You” leads’ chemistry remained quite tacit and mellow over the whole series—very realistic as real life isn’t full of hot moments all the time, but, honestly I want a bit more spice from my dramas because I get enough real life from real life. Still, overall, a very, very heartwarming story and many sweet moments.
I enjoyed watching, but have no real interest in watching it again.
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STORY
I Have A Lover felt more than just one drama, it felt like several dramas put together in the best way possible. The main concept of the show, even if it isn't very apparent at first, is Forgiveness! People will go around hurting you, is life worth spending trying to pay them back, or is it better to just let go? As someone who doesn't believe in forgiveness you can imagine how i felt when i realised what this show is about, but they managed to pull it off beautifully.
At the same time I Have A Lover, gave me the best, most intense and fucked up/twisted true love story i have ever watched in my life. The chemistry here is simply effortless and emotional beyond words, you can see the sparks around them while they look at each other, simply magical. The drama is worth watching because on screen chemistries like this one are hard to come by, almost impossible!
As i said IHAL brought several things to the table, the main premise is forgiveness but, separating the drama into parts, each part its own thing to present:
Part 1: Infidelity. The beginning of the show, the first 10 episodes, how can a marriage come apart at the seams, and at the same time the notion of how people react and get through tragedies, and how they expect the people around them to react. Get ready for some frustrating events the writting is realistic and brutal.
Part 2: Romance. Episodes 11-20. You will begin to grasp what the show is about here, whatever happened in the first 10 episodes, character-wise, will completely change, depicting how unpredictable human feelings are in the best and most natural way.
Part 3: Episodes 20-31. The story here stops being character driven ans becomes story driven. The focus shifts to the classic family-company drama that we all know. However it is dead-interesting even though it was the slowest part of the drama imo. The show tends to tell you things while the characters are unaware of them. Here the characters get to know them, and you just watch as they are shocked and try to cope with everything.
Part 4: Revenge and Forgiveness. Episodes 32-50. The pace gets accelerated from this point, especially the last 10 episodes were absolutely fabulous, and possibly the best of the show along with the first 10.
50 episodes and this drama never got dragged. It had a complex story, there are several backstories here, that help the story proceed. We have our everyone-wants-the-big-company classic sub story, evil characters, multiple love stories and love triangles and amazing well-rounded characters. It has illness, twin siblings, backstabbing friendships, constant turning tables between the leads, frenemies who scheme, revenge. I seriously have nothing bad to say, it was a wonderful ride, and i would have watched another 50 episodes seriously.
One thing that might set people off is the way the main love story gets told. We have a lot of set backs and back and forths. Yes, it is true, but the chemistry was so mesmerizing, so effortless, so real, that i didn't have any problem with it. I felt every moment of pain, every moment of backstepping, every moment of love and hatred. Best and most fucked up love story (possibly) ever!
ACTING
Standing Ovation for Ji Jin Hee and ESPECIALLY KIM HYUN JOO!
Kim Hyun Joo. The female Ji Sung of Kdramaland. She didn't pull off 2 characters, no. Her role felt like 4 characters if not more. I won't even mention that she has the BEST resting bitch face in kdramaland, i won't even mention that she ACED all her comedy scenes (her 2nd character is the main comedic character). But i will stand by the point that after episode 30 she is seriously giving the performance of her career, the way she manages to be BOTH a total raging bitch and a kind hearted girl at the same time was beyond me, she was leaving one personality and entering the other like it was nothing, in the same scene! She was amazing and flawless in every way and the show couldn't have worked without her. She WAS the show! I haven't seen any of her previous works, but i admired her a lot, and i doubt that she was ever better than here. I am looking forward to her next work!
Ji Jin Hee. His character was the easiest to hate BUT, his was so effortlessly expressing all his feelings through his eyes and facial expressions, that it was impossible for me to hate him. I kept rooting for him to be happy like my life was depending on it. Second best facial expressions in kdramaland after Kwon Sang Woo! He was luscious and sensuous, i loved his emotional scenes, he was indeed in love with her, i am not sure i have seen such *in love* eyes even in real life. Standing ovation for both of them. THEY MADE THE SHOW!
Lee Jyu Han. Obviously overshadowed by JJH, but it's ok, he standed on his feet completely, he was great i had no problems with his perforance, it was totally on point.
Park Han Byul. And we get to her. Her character was fundemental for the drama to continue. She wasn't bad, but we can only imagine what would have happened had a stronger actress given the role. During the midst of the show, she needed to express some hatred and her role needed her to be a bitch, but she couldn't, her acting felt mediocre like the least she needed to give to be acceptable. I think she would perfectly fit fluffy rom coms, this was too serious for her. If i wanted to be strict, the acting should have been a 9.5 as she just couldn't live up to her character's and role's expectations, but a 9.5 is a disgrace to JJH and KHJ's flawless performance as well as literally everyone's in the supporting cast. Thankfully in the last 15/20 episodes her role gets smaller almost insignificant and the rest of the actors do their thing.
At this point, the only thing i can do to praise the incredible and superb supporting cast is just write their names. Awards deserved!
Firstly, Baek Ji Won, why doesn't she get more roles? She was an amazing evil character and at the same time one of the funniest actors, she would fit comedy PERFECTLY, i am keeping an eye on her.
Gong Hyung Jin. He was the main evil character, and he pulled of his twisted role perfectly without becoming a stupid evil character with no soul. He was scary but funny when he was supposed to be. Overall, great!
Child actress, Kim Ha Yu. OMG how can a child actress be this good? Cuteness overload, amazing acting, effortless! My favourite kid actress!
Also, Na Young Hee, Dok Go Young Jae, everyone did a splendid job! Congratulations!
RECOMMEND/REWATCH
If the 50 episodes make you think and rethink before starting this, just start it already! I was afraid of the 50 episodes too, i ended up watching 40 in 1 week and then waiting anxiously for the rest of the show to be aired! You won't even realise as the episodes fly by, you will be sucked in instantly!
IHAL has something pretty much for everyone. If you like romance, this is totally for you. It has infidelity, it has revenge, it has constant backstabbing, scheming, blackmailing, plot twists, backstories, twin siblings, illnesses, identity swap. It has everything, literally it has everything, it is more than a drama, and it deserves to be watched!
50 episodes, and yes, i'd rewatch it, especially the first 10 episodes which were so shocking to me, completely filled with reality, shivering, chilling. And then the effortless heart-warming and simultaneously heart-breaking romance, and then the backstory, omg yes. This is an overall 10 show!
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STOP !!!!!
Don't say it's unhelpful just because I gave 9 and 10 to pretty much everything. I can explain, I swear !
I gave an Overall 10 because in my heart it deserves it.
I gave a 10 to Rewatch Value because it's really not the kind of movie you need to not know the ending to enjoy. The story is moving whether or not you know who end up with who in the end. Proof of that : I've seen it 4 times and I'm not regretting it. AT ALL !
I gave a 9 to music because it holds its place in the movie and because the two songs are stuck in my head forever. And I'm enjoying it.
I gave a 8 to acting because let's be honest here, it was awesome. But it's not a movie that magnifies actors, it's more about the story, so not 10. And not 9 either because the main actress could have done a better job, to my point of view. She did great, but I'm a picky watcher, if I may say...
Finally, I gave 9 to the story. Let's talk about this for ma moment.
For those, like me, who hesitate before watching adult movies like this one, let's be clear : THIS IS NOT PORN.
Really, you need to get past the first few minutes and see that this is really an incredibly realistic and thus touching, heart-warming, beautiful love story that will certainly make you laugh and maybe - if you're like me - maybe even make you cry. You will love it, you will love the characters, you will want this story to be yours and you will watch this movie over and over again, with ice cream on your laps, or with your boyfriend in your arms, or even with a bunch of girlfriends you want to get infected with K-drama addiction.
(after this movie, you make them watch Protect the Boss, or Secret Love, and you got yourself a K-drama Gang ! )
I just loved this movie, to have fun watching it !
^^
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