Reviews

My first ever review. I thought this drama deserved it.

It starts off very light-hearted and remains very easy to binge throughout the show. The main romance is super cute and the acting was very convincing and realistic. Pacing and overall writing is really good despite the 'unrealistic premise' of the show. Also thought the message it delivered was very apt as we're very closed off from each other emotionally nowadays. You won't feel any cheesy-ness from the show besides the cliche henchmen bit. 10/10 recommend to anyone.  Would've gotten overall 10 from me if not for the OST, had one or two tracks slightly lackluster.

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This was such an unexpectedly delightful film. Fun, quirky, sexy, heartwarming and full of food porn, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Joo Ji Hoon and Kim Jae Wook gave great performances in the leads but Yoo Ah In shows why he ended up being one of Korea's most-respected and versatile actors.
But beyond the lovely acting and the sense of magical realism, this film is underpinned by strong friendships and the power of human connection. Everyone who walks into the Antique Bakery is damaged in some way but is slowly healed and not just by the really great cake.
I highly recommend this film.

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I feel that the story the movie is telling is incredibly deep. It will leave you thinking for days, though for me it was too dark...and graphic. However you won't feel the time passing by while watching as the movie will suck you into its story, with no chance to escape that gruesome depiction  of life in the 1990s.

Moreover in my opinion the characters were each totally individual and thereby you could see from a lot of different perspectives. Nevertheless what happened would leave me scarred for life so I cannot relate and do not want to do so.

In summary it is a fascinating but shocking and depressing movie which I would recommend for anyone searching for something meaningful. To watch it though, you will need some strong nerves.

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After watching several mindless daily dramas that are dragging storylines over and over I decided to start researching more dramas pre-2014 when I first started watching K dramas.  The actress playing in Misty (2018) is so captivating I found this title and finally found a site that had all of the episodes translated.   I am "revived" again.   This is a family drama that tells the story of "in-laws" in almost all situations of human relationships.  Their cultural influence and the filial traditions associated with this Korean practice is shown in a practical and realistic way in the typical middle income - not the richer elitist family.   The story is not redundant but has top 10 rated actors and actresses that carry their intertwined storylines.  The only flaw in the story was it started to drag around the 54 episode which went to the rushed 58 episode.   Some stories were opened and inconclusive as to the outcome of the parties described.   However, the main storyline holds up throughout and the viewer is pleasantly pleased that the values of family, love and marriage were never compromised.  A good watch if you just need a pick me up on a daily drama basis.    You will see actors and actresses that are currently in 2018 dramas throughout and it is just refreshing to know they continue to do excellent jobs in the industry.   A MUST SEE for a family drama viewer -- 50 plus episodes -- worth the time.

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Reading the summary of the drama and watching the previews, I was skeptical especially since the genre is a melodrama. I thought it was going to be overly dramatic but to my pleasant surprise, it wasn't. I think the writers did a fantastic job with addressing tragedies and the human emotions that come with it without being overdramatic. It was very different from dramas that I have watched but it was also real, which I liked. The main couple was great and adorable. I like how the female lead and the male lead took their time to realize their feelings and get together because both were dealing with the tragedy in their own way. Bottomline is it's a fantastic drama.

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• S T O R Y: The synopsis of the story follows with a leading woman named Eve who always dreams about her future and afterwards she always pursue her dreams easily and never fail of getting it. Talking about pursuing of her dreams, there is this one dream about the man-of-her-dreams where he appears to be a successful engineer, rich, gentleman, hardworking, and has a very attractive appearance. One day in her late 20s, Eve saw the guy that appears in her dreams to be her future husband. On the Valentine's day, Eve went to the gasoline station and met the guy in her dreams named Pun. Being shocked, she ran away because she can't believe that the man-of-her-dreams is a gasoline boy and not an Engineer.

• A C T I N G: First of all, we all know that Ice Preechaya is a living legend. I don't know what to say because I think all of her works were great including this one. I CAN FEEL HER PAIN!!! We all know that Ice Nattarat is just new to the industry and it blew me off. GDH really molds their actors to the extent and out of their comfort zones. The crying scenes were surreal and it really drives me off, where I can really empathize for his feelings. This role really suits for him! Both of them really suits for each other. I hope GDH produce a movie consisting them two. We need their faces in the big screen! <3 I know I shouldn't ask for more but ugh! More screen time for their love scenes!!!

• M U S I C: The OST and background music were great. I added those in my spotify playlist haha. They are sweet and just right.

• R E W A T C H | V A L U E: 1000000000000000/10; I feel like rewatching this anytime because of the 3-hour span of the whole series. I enjoy rewatching some parts, or let's say everything. I can't ask for more. THEY LEFT ME HANGING!!!

• O V E R A L L: 999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999/10; Everything was just perfect as it is! :) <3

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I think this drama is something  for relaxation as the story line is simple to follow and there are no long and boring middle parts.

I like the story although I didn't like the male lead at first because he was being so so so rude to Kim Hye Jin. Later on his character got better but damn, I hated him at first.
I like the female lead because she is funny and quirky and really weird sometimes and that kind of stood out through the whole drama. Kim Shin Hyeok as a character was a total weirdo but I enjoyed the scenes with him because they would cerainly make you laugh or almost cringe (sometimes at the same time as Kim Hye Ji, because we felt what she felt).
I had problems with her best friend keeping this huge secret for so long. I mean falling in love or love in general makes people do stupid things sometimes. But living under the same roof and being best friends and seeing the man her best friend's in love with...that was a little bit too much for my taste, but i get that it's possible...but still....aaaah...cringe.

Music didn't stand out for me that much so nothing to report there, no negativ, no positiv.

I probably wouldn't rewatch this drama because for me it's too...maybe a bit too shallow. There were no surprises and not twists one couldn't get some episodes ahead. That was a bit sad for me as the other aspects of this drama - which were good - couldn't balance it out.

don't get me wrong, it's still a good drama but nothing special for me.

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"Is your life over because of one mistake?" -daiki-kun
"Is there anyone in this world who wouldn't have some dirt in them?" -Chiharu-chan

This drama is really highly recommended, everything falls into place and unlike other dramas, this somehow close to reality. How the drama tackles the life of a newscaster, the family relationships and how society usually judge people because one incident. It's an excellent drama,  not heavy themed until the later parts. The acting was perfect: Kou Shibasaki as a wife with a secret, you could really tell that she was somehow anxious and was like wearing a mask, you couldn't predict her; Higashiyama Noriyuki was excellent too, how he portrays a newscaster and a husband tormented/frustrated about his wife. They portrayed the characters so well and I like the development of characters. Though I find it bothering/annoying when they use the "holy"  bgm, but until the later parts bgms used improved.  

I'd definitely re-watch it  but avoiding the ending. Though most are disappointed  how it ends, I think there was a message to it. Life is unpredictable, so one must cherish the moment.

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Really impressed with the whole story and how it was superbly developed only in a handful of episodes. As some reviewers made a good point, this series made the whole love story blossom to the fullest compared to what regular dramas sometimes can't manage on screen. In this short 10 episode web drama, I got to experience all kinds of emotions from sad to bubbly. I do feel like the drama is still lacking one or two more episodes to fully complete its' purpose, but other than that, everything was just splendid! I finally got to see Minho's acting as a lead, and also the lead female actress' wonderful performance too. I think they had their cute and fluffy moments with their chemistry. Even though I give most of the aspects for this drama a high rating, however, I still feel as though the whole time travel concept is way too overused and is hard to still be enjoyable. This drama needed a click, something original or what we, drama fans, love to see. There are more appealing short stories out there, but if you take this drama, it has amazing cinematography, cute characters and a beautiful friendship/first love theme. If you're into that kind of genre and story and if you love the actors, definitely watch it!

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“So you’re saying...I am seducing you?”
“And I have taken the bait.”
“So frank?”
“It’s a fact.”


I loved this show. But by the time the end of the drama came, I was a bit disappointed with the characters. Still, watch it for the amazing make out scenes. *swooooon
You know that it’s ridiculous when you’re more interested in the parents than the main romance. Both the lead actors are very charismatic and easy to watch on screen. They make everything interesting. It’s been a while since I really rooted for the main couple instead of just blindly accepting that they are meant to be.
They are both similar in character with the way they get what they want and manipulate people. It’s hard to tell whether their interactions with each other are sincere or not. Even they are confused.
I actually enjoyed all the ridiculous scheming and how the major schemers were getting lost with how many schemes are going on.
I’m surprised at how entertained I was by Hao Meng’s scenes with his clients.

Huan Zhen
This character plays her devious role to perfection. She’s the perfect bad guy and she knows how to get revenge. There are little things about her character that are satisfying. Like how she doesn’t mind sending Hao Meng pictures of her sleep hair. I like that even though she is a crazy bitch, it’s not because she doesn’t have good parents or she had a bad life.
I like the way she is so cool. She doesn’t freak out at blood and she can happily offer her services to the police as bait to catch a criminal.
Huan Zhe is a complex character. She can easily change the direction of a conversation and you can see how she will stop in her tracks and decide to go with a different reaction.
She is never clueless. I was surprised at how many times she reveals what she knows.

Sheng Nan – second female lead
I like that Sheng Nan is not just a cardboard character. I enjoyed her relationship with her brother and her parents’ silent war. It made her story much more meaningful. I felt sorry for her getting caught in the middle. She’s very dutiful in her role though.
It’s probably really mean of me, but she really is no match for Huan Zhen. Sheng Nan just rolls with the fact that she is in Huan Zhen’s shadow. To top it off, when Huan Zhen is in danger, Sheng Nan steps up to the plate readily.
I like the proximity of the enemies with Sheng Nan’s brother being caught in the middle.

Hao Meng – male lead
This actor has a beautifully expressive face. And I loved seeing his expression when he was moved by something. The funny thing about him is that he has such a chiseled look but when he smiles it’s so freakin’ cute. Sometimes, the cuteness doesn’t even seem to fit the situation especially when he’s trying to be masculine. He’s too freakin’ cute.
I liked seeing how conflicted Hao Meng was about Huan Zhen especially after being warned so thoroughly by his sister. His loyalty to his sister is great and so is his fascination with Huan Zhen. He is hilariously clandestine about his new budding romance with her and hides it from everyone like he is committing a crime. The show did well with showing his interest in her had affected his life so completely.

“When she cries I am even more upset than her.”

Romance
I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen a couple with this much sizzling sexual tension.
It’s funny seeing Hao Meng dislike himself for loving the morally ambiguous Huan Zhen.

Friend - “This girl has serious problems.”
Hao Meng- “How come it feels like I have a problem?”

This pair were more sinister than undercover agents the way they danced around each other. They say all the right things to each other when they are completing bullshitting. It’s funny because they are so busy keeping in mind what’s going on in the other’s mind, they appear to be so selfless.
The show really ramps up the flirting. And the two main characters do flirting so well.
I was impressed that as far as Hao Meng will push her Huan Zhen will push right back even when it come to her modesty. It’s really bizarre having him be so fake nice to her when it really is an enemies-to-lovers vibe.
I really liked that despite them being dishonest with each other, they way they try and trip each other up, is actually very revealing of their personalities and I feel like they really got to know each other despite all the deception.
Despite the cheesiness of it, I love that she could overcome his insomnia.

Friendship
I really like that the girls are so awesome when they patch it up.

Siblings
Sheng Nan and Justin are pretty funny together. They have good chemistry as siblings. I liked the way they interacted and the way they looked at each other, with such meaning and intent like they could read each other’s minds.
I love that he draws the boundaries with her and his relationship with Huan Zhen. But even while they are arguing, he makes her a sandwich. So cute!

Parents
Huan Zhe’s parents are cool. Her relationship with them is good and she’s particularly cute with her mother. I like that her dad can talk to her about meaningful things too.
Hao Meng’s dad is cool. But too cool for the family.
The show makes a point to contrast Huan Zhen’s simple and happy parents and Hao Meng’s argumentative, stressed parents. Huan Zhen’s mother is girlishly still in love with her husband.
I liked Hao Meng’s relationship with his mother and how the drama really fleshed it out. It felt more real than the usual mother idolising her precious only son. The show allowed Hao Meng to understand her viewpoint. He’s already really considerate of her, but this show took it to another level.

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I was compelled to watch this movie because the concept is so original and interesting. Can you fall in love with someone whose physiscal appearance changes everyday? Or: can you truly fall in love with their inner beauty? I thought the idea was amazing and the movie fulfilled my intital expectations in answering those two questions.

That being said, The Beauty Inside raises way more interesting questions (like the value of having your own physical appearance and how we identify as "ourselves" using our face, how people can treat us differently depending on what we look like, etc...) but it doesn't really treat them. I would have liked going a little deeper with the concept, but the movie really focuses on the "love" part. Of course, the format has its limits (it's already 2 hours long) and not all subjects can be treated in just one movie, but it was a little frustrating in my opinion.

The cast for Woo Jin did a very good job at portraying a consistent character, it was easy to believe that all these faces are the same person.
I am not a huge fan of Han Hyo Joo but I thought she did a good job with her character, especially knowing that the struggle she goes through cannot be something relatable and she must have relied on her imagination a lot to understand and portray Yi Soo's feelings.

The movie is certainly an interesting watch with a lovely and moving story, that can make you laugh, tear up and think :)

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“All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.”
-Galileo Galilei

         Galileo was an exciting drama. The drama is wholly focused on solving episodic (bizarre) mysteries, with just a small sliver given to character and relationship development. Each episode is only 45 minutes, and there are only 10 episodes, so this drama is great to binge in a week or weekend. There is a second season (I have not watched it), but it features a new female lead, which is extremely disappointing. Speaking of Utsumi…
         Based on the first episode, I thought Utsumi’s character had great potential to be a lovable, savvy detective. Unfortunately, Utsumi’s character ends up spending the majority of her screen time being confused or making exasperated expressions (she is still lovable, if not as savvy as I would have liked). Yukawa is charmingly eccentric in a Sherlock type way. The side characters mainly add humor to the show; I especially liked medical examiner Sakurako.
          The opening theme music was cool, and the ending theme was cute (also, it was performed by KOH+, which is a band whose lead singer and guitarist are the actors of Utsumi and Yukawa!) As far as rewatching this drama, I probably won't since I already know how all the mysteries are solved.

I wish they had decided to make more episodes and gone deeper with the characters, but overall this drama is worth the quick watch.

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Who says women can't be friends?

At a time where bromance are portrayed desirably in dramas and films, this 12-episode drama, whose main characters are ahjummas who originally banded together towards a common goal and soon found lifelong friendship in each other, is such a rarity. Hell, even in reality, sisterhood is a rare find.

Put aside the extremities of their economic status, these actresses are playing real, complicated, women. Middle-aged women who have not known any other life than being a mother or a housewife. Women who has been subjected to mistreatment so frequently, they accepted it as fate. Almost. Because they've learned to say enough is enough.

But, you ask, and understandably so, what can these ahjummas do to change their fate?

Well, you know what they say, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. But no need to be that dramatic - of course, it should be done within legal boundaries, and, of course, without anyone being hurt. So, really, this is not your typical story of witches whose vindictive machinations were summoned when pushed to the brink. This is an adorable, heartwarming tale of ahjummas who met under not-so-funny circumstances and who only wanted to have revenge on people who constantly belittles them without breaking the social strata but, with the help of a 19-yr old boy, learned how to value themselves and see their own worth. And, in the process, have found not only friendship but family in each other.

And what better poetic justice than that?

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