Reviews

At first, I thought it was not a good story. But it just only a thought. It was really a good story.
The story teach me that no matter what happen or what my partner is. I should accept it. Because that what you called LOVE. And also, the main character and also those supporting actors was literally FANTASTIC. I was amazed on how they deliver their lines and how they act. GOSH!!! But the last episode. I'm just curious about the leading man which is Lee Soo-yeon, I want to see his face after 1 yr. And also, what happen in his brother and Mr. Jo. Hope that this drama serial have a SEASON 2!!!and I'm willing to wait!

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When the bullied becomes a bully

Everyone like a revenge series or may be its just me and this is why I really enjoyed this comedy drama fantasy series. This series contains all the elements that I like; comedy, mystery, fantasy, bromance, friendship and an assortment of actors that can do justice to their characters. This series in retrospect is about the life of students constantly under pressure to excel, where losers are looked down upon and harassed.

The story as the name suggests, is about a gangster whose soul enters a down-on-his-luck, bullied and suicidal student. Making peace with the fact that he has practically dies, he sets out on a journey to improve t he life of the student before his inevitable return of his soul. What follows is a series of events, where our kind-hearted gangster learns more about the life of the student whose body he inhabits, tries to right the wrongs that he has faced all the while helping other people he judges going astray.

The beauty of the series lies in its simplicity and the mystery that hides behind the main characters. Why did Song Yi Heon commit suicide? What was the last conversation between him and Choi Se Kyung? How will Kim Deuk Pal, the gangster, help Yi Heon before his imminent demise? Will the bad guys learn a lesson and turn over a new leaf?

The series although with a simple story has complicated characters. Song Yi Heon has money but what he lacks is motherly care and a peaceful life in school. He is constantly bullied and beaten by the rapscallions at school, wants to befriend the popular guy, Choi Se Kyung but is termed a stalker, all in all a silent victim. Choi Se Kyung is pressured to perform by his successful father leading him to suffer from anxiety attacks. Kim Dong Soo, Kim Deuk Pal’s henchman wants to rebuild the gang after Duek Pal’s death only to be trapped and used by Lee Mi Kyung, our secondary antagonist.

In conclusion, this is a highly entertaining series that offers a unique blend of action, humor, and emotional depth. While the world-building could be tighter, the series excels with its strong performances and engaging premise. It's a perfect watch for those seeking a fun and thought-provoking escape.

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Why the ML Can’t See Red Flags

I am only partway through this drama but it’s dawned on me that part of the overall horror and a big part of what keeps the plot going is that Jong-woo, the ML, doesn’t have a healthy instinct for self-preservation. if he did he would have left Eden Boarding House in 5 minutes even though his rolling suitcase was broken.

It’s not that he’s stupid or oblivious or anything like that. We do see early on that he has a knack for making not-great choices. The big problem is that he’s just so accustomed to dealing with dysfunction, humiliation, and outright abuse in his day-to-day life and just brushing away all the ill feeling it gives him that he can no longer recognize when he’s in a dangerous situation and react appropriately.

Look at how he gets treated by the people in his workplace and elsewhere: he’s told he’s too sensitive, has his emotions invalidated, and even gets told to smile more! A lot of women are probably all too familiar with this kind of treatment. Jong-woo has internalized a lot of it too. He keeps telling himself to ignore really bizarre and awful things at the boarding house, insisting to himself that he’s being ridiculous, so by the time he realizes how bad the situation really is, it’s almost too late.

It’s this dynamic that makes the progression of the story so natural and adds to the subtle sense of horror/dread.

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SIMPLE YET HEART-TOUCHING

I watched this in the cinemas, and one thing I regret is that I didn't bring TISSUES!!!! In each corner of the cinema anyone you see is crying...

STORY:
The plot was simple but beautiful, I can't quite tell what I truly feel, but it's a masterpiece.

ACTING:
Everyone acted natural and great, as if it's true— it makes the film more real and heart touching.

REWATCH VALUE:
I WILL TOTALLY REWATCH THIS SOMEDAY. It's just something...

It just makes you realize things, and the more you understand the more you feel it and just exert emotions. LIKE LITERALLY I couldn't stop crying whenever I think about it deeper!!

P.S. When I got out of the cinema I covered my nose with my hands (I looked like Rudolf)

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Friendship & Love

First part so-so, from the 14th episode it became more interesting.
However, the plot isn't exactly the best. What did I like about this series? When the main woman lead breaks up with her boyfriend and manages to make him feel some of the suffering she felt. I also liked Namkoong Min's acting, at the beginning of the 25th episode when he prepares the speech for his father-in-law, it's an amazing moment. I follow this actor because he is a great performer.
Some tears around the 22nd episode.
No word for the cousin and his relationships with women, especially with the poor coach. He too, after being left, became a better man and made amends.

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Bitter Sweet Hell is one of the best K-Drama with storyline of psychological drama and conflict.

IMHO, “Bitter Sweet Hell” is one of the best K-Drama with storyline of psychological drama and conflict.

“Bitter Sweet Hell” offers a fresh take on family dramas. It delves into what happens when the foundations of family are shaken, revealing the true nature of relatives we thought we knew well. The show maintains a mysterious “whodunnit” vibe, keeping viewers curious about the unfolding events and surprising twists. Despite some pacing issues, the plot remains intriguing, making it worth watching. If you enjoy suspenseful dramas with unexpected revelations, this one might be right up your alley!

Overview:
“Bitter Sweet Hell” tells the story of Korea's best psychological counselor, No Yeong-won (played by Kim Hee Sun), whose seemingly perfect life shatters when she discovers her husband's affair with Lee Sae Na (Yeonwoo). As secrets unravel, Yeong-won teams up with her mother-in-law, Hong Sa Gang (Lee Hye Young), to save their family from ruin.

Plot Summary:
Yeong-won, a celebrity psychiatrist married to a successful surgeon, faces betrayal when her husband's infidelity comes to light. Lee Sae Na's sudden arrival triggers a series of tragic events, leading Yeong-won and her mother-in-law on a quest for answers and redemption.

Themes and Elements:
- Deceit and Betrayal: The drama explores the impact of betrayal within a family, highlighting the complexities of trust and loyalty.
- Psychological Intrigue: As a psychological counselor, Yeong-won grapples with her own emotions while helping others navigate theirs.
- Family Bonds:
- The relationship between Yeong-won and her mother-in-law evolves as they confront shared secrets and truths.
- The relationship between Yeong-won with her only child, Do Hyun (played by Park Jae Chan)
, which was not friendly in the first time, after the family was shaken by their problems, became strengthening each other, until the child had the courage to coming out

“Bitter Sweet Hell” offers a mix of suspense, comedy, and mystery. It's a compelling watch for those intrigued by psychological dramas.

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face slapping done right!

outside of the gorgeous osts and cinematography, i can't stress enough how much joy it gives me seeing a series adapt a female lead who can stick to revenge to the end while also punishing those who did her wrong. all the villains had the most satisfying ends.

the stand out performances are definitely jiang li and wanning. the actress who played wanning is an incredible actress and to be able to evoke the audience to hate and sympathise with you is an affirmation of her acting prowess.

jiang li is a talent of her own, the amount of times i cried with her is uncountable. her determination and perseverance to end moved me and if there's one word i can describe her as is a chameleon. her ability to change and adapt her personality and mannerisms depending on who she was with blew me away. great actress

overall the drama is just *chefs kiss* the ending was downright tragic (yu zheng when i catch you) but i was able to placate myself with a bonus episode ?

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First Impression: I Hear the Sunspot

Overall: it was a strong start with an interesting/believable dynamic. Hoping they keep the momentum for the next 11 episodes. I think I read the first volume of the manga a long time ago and I've seen the prior 2017 movie but I'm basing this review on the 2024 series' own merits. 12 episodes about 25 minutes each. Airing on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/4485/i-hear-the-sunspot-2024-e01

Content Warning: punch

What I Liked
- dynamic between the leads
- acting
- more realistic fall
- representation with a character who has hearing loss
- production value

Room For Improvement
- don't love starting a series with a flash forward and also the voice over at the end of episode 1

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An easy watch, would recommend!

Although "Hello, My Noisy MP3" is labeled as a comedy, romance, youth, and fantasy drama, it primarily serves as a coming-of-age story with slight hints of romance sprinkled throughout.

If you're expecting a romance-heavy show, you might be disappointed. While there's some romance, the focus is more on youth, high school experiences, friendship, and other aspects of adolescence. The romance only comes into play towards the end, but by that point, I was just enjoying the show for its coming of age themes.

The main plot revolves around 30 year old star Zhao Man Er (FL), who communicates with her 11 year old self through an MP3 player. This form of communication allows Zhao Man Er to fix and alleviate regrets from her past, thereby changing her present and future. This proves particularly useful when she uses it to remove a threat to her acting career, which has been her lifelong dream.

The story is quite intriguing. While I've seen many time travel dramas, this is the first time I've seen a concept involving the use of a communication device to alter the future. I loved the cast, especially actors Chen Ye Sheng and Zhang Kai Tai. The acting by all the cast members was impressive, and the soundtrack complements the narrative well!

However, there are some confusing aspects, such as the constant switches between past and present selves, which muddle the storyline. But this doesn't affect the overall enjoyment of the drama too much. The identity of the male lead (ML) is also ambiguous, especially during the beginning of the show, as the story presents two males who are interested in the (FL) throughout high school to present. This is possibly intentionally done by the writer/director, but it definitely made me wonder who the (FL) would end up with!

Overall, "Hello, My Noisy MP3" is a delightful watch, especially for those interested in themes of youth and growing up.

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An intelligent, coherent and impeccable plot. It is a production made with a refined sense of Art.

Blood and tears alternate with extreme strength and beauty, cruelty and Poetry interact with vigor and grace. Human turpitude, vile ambitions, virtues, courage, lightness and fragility move in an absolutely precise game of chess. From an aesthetic perspective, the use of theatrical concepts is simply genial. This theatricality causes a great visual and sensorial impact, enormously expanding emotional strength and plastic beauty. The characters are very well structured. The intricate relationship between the characters, despite being complex and rich in details, is easy to assimilate. Music is powerful and has important role, endowed with melodies and lyrics of great beauty and strength, it is an essential ally that enhances feelings, sensations, perceptions, emotions. The beauty of the images also impacts. Numerous scenes stand out as paintings that resemble masterpieces of Chinese painting. Everything done with extreme subtlety, from the point of view of ancient Chinese culture, its discreet, gentle and delicate art, its relationship with the mystique of death, its profound ability to observe the most imperceptible detail. How much beauty is the tea rite, a philosophical and poetic act. The actors’ synergy is enchanting. The performance of the actress Wu Jin Yan (A'Li), is simply masterful. It demands versatility in all the nuances of the immense human universe of pain, helplessness, loneliness, humiliation, indignation, love, joy, generosity, overcoming, hope. She's independent character, elevates women and removes them from the unfair and imposed passive and defenseless role. Also masterful is the performance of Wang Xing Yue (Duke Su). Through exclusively subtle nuances in facial expression, gaze, body gestures (as manly as he is kind) and voice intonation, he vigorously brings out a universe of feelings that dialogue with the viewer and leads them into this universe. The couple has an overwhelming chemistry, with a relationship that progresses with intensity, making the blood flow boil and the heart beat strong. This excepcional plot has the power to engage the viewer within its world. The plot flows with agility and reconciles hope with justice. I'm grateful for the aesthetic and emotional enjoyment of this series. I reluctantly leave the screen richer than when I entered this universe of ''The double'. I'll miss it..."

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Toxicity at its finest

A controversial show you either love or hate.

Toxic and emotionally draining, but that's the quality that makes it special. It doesn't feel like a fairytale, where everything is sprinkled with stardust. It's mature and focuses on the ugly and less attractive side of people, when they are at their worst and succumb to their lowest instincts. I enjoyed watching these six characters being humans. Petty and flawed. They will definitely frustrate you, you will love them, you'll hate them, you'll sympathise with them, but they are all multi dimensional they feel real.

Aside from the story itself the acting must be praised. Every actor gave it their best and the result was amazing. I will commend Khaotung a bit more for delivering --in a terrifyingly realistic way-- one of the best scenes I've ever ever watched on a bl so far.

As for the music, every song selected fitted each scene perfectly and amplified the emotions the characters conveyed.

Overall, it's a show I definitely recommend to anyone who is interested in a less perfect story.

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