Story: The story is well developed, and though I found it a bit slow in the beginning it picks up quite quickly. It keeps you wondering what these characters all have in common and how it all fits together. The games are well thought out and the twists and turns of this drama are very clever. This helps keeping the suspense up as the drama goes on. The villain is complex and intriguing and the male protagonist is very interesting and clever. The conflict between the male leads is by far the best thing about this drama. The female lead didn't really appeal to me. She was naive to the point of stupidity and even though it gets better as the time goes on, she's still a bit dumb for my taste. She is definitely a damsel in distress. In summary the plot is well written and exciting. This drama does have an open ending though so if you really don't like those, you might want to skip this one.
Acting: The acting in this drama is quite good. Shin Sung Rok and Lee Sang Yoon both did and outstanding job as the two male leads. Shin Sung Rok really do nail those villain roles. I was not as happy with Kim So Euns' preformance. Her acting felt a bit too over-the-top for my taste, but this might be due to bad directing or the fact that she didn't have all that much to work with. I have not seen any of her other performances so its hard for me to judge. The other actors did a very good job as well. Not much lacking in that department.
Music: The music works quite well with the mood of the drama. It adds to the suspense and generally does what its supposed to. Well done.
In summary, this is a very well done drama with complex and interesting characters and quite a unique concept. If you like dramas with clever characters and suspense you will probably like this. And if you like dramas where the female lead is a damsel in distress, even better. And if you don't, just try to pretend she's not there. That's what I did.
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
Okay, submit review......... oh God, it has to be a 500 character review!
Well, at that time I didn't really like what I watched, before Go Eun Byul's school settings appeared. It reminds me about high school life and its funny things like get a rid with friends and stuff. So, I love this drama because it brings school things and... romance, of course.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
This review is going to be long, but if you read anything in it, read about Min Joon. I'll split into sections!
Characters:
Min Joon: I don't know if I've ever loved a kdrama character as much as I love Min Joon. He's just written so well. First, he shouldn't be relatable. But he is so relatable. His story is a big one. From his profession, being a scam artist, to his mission to hunt down what happened to his brother, it's not a common real world story. Yet I relate to his character so much, even though on paper, our life experiences are nothing the same. This clearly has to do with amazing acting, by Woo Do Hwan, and writing. Do Hwan really brings this character to life, and throughout the drama we see Min Joon grow and change for the better. The beautiful part is, I can't pin down exactly when he changes. It happens slowly and naturally, and I never find myself thinking "sure. Min Joon would do that" His character is a hard one to write. He is shown at first with all his walls, that make it appear that he has little emotion. Later though, when we see he truly does have emotion, it is acted and written in a very Min Joon way. When Min Joon shows emotion it's not just, angst and yelling, the way it is portrayed is true to his character. So many actors, when they have to be emotional, just act angsty. I really appreciate how that's not always the case for Do Hwan, and when he shows emotion it still feels true to his character. Additionally, when we see the process of Min Joon taking down his walls, he doesn't feel like a totally new person. Oh he's changed, but he's still Min Joon. Talent if you ask me, to change one's character, but still feel like their character. His character is written and acted very well, and has become my favorite kdrama character of all time due to this.
Kang Woo: He's like the dad of the team and I love him. He takes care of them all, and really binds the team together. While he isn't given a lot of screen time (Min Joon is given most of the screen time, it is truly his story) he really creates a presence, and our Mad Dog team wouldn't be anywhere without him. Really loved him.
Ha Ri: Ya know I like her. She isn't perfect, yet she's still admirable. She cares fiercely for her friends, and is great in action, but dang. That girl got a lot of pride. She sometimes says things she shouldn't, and has a hard time directly apologizing (she will make amends in her own way though). She has a temper, but she cares a lot. While sometimes her temper got on my nerves, I really appreciate that the writer just didn't make her to be this perfect female, like. so. many. writers. She has flaws, she has strengths, and she's all the more lovable because of it.
Noo Ri: Side characters that deserve their own drama: Noo Ri. Gosh. His character is so interesting, yet they only start delving into it after ep 12. waaaaae. I can't really talk about him much because of spoilers....but don't be fooled! You'll think that he's just another comedy side-character no one really cares about, and then boom he's your second favorite character (ok. my second favorite character). He's just so precious, and gah I love him.
Cheetah: How did this guy do the immensly creepy apostle jo in save me (btw do hwan is in that too. y'all should check it out it's awesome), and then lovable captain of the ha ri and min joon ship??? Seriously though, love him. He's hilarious and our ship would be no where without him.
Baddies: yup. I grouped them all. There's nothing special. Whenever it was bad guy on bad guy, I started playing with my phone. If you want interesting villains or politics look else where.
Relationships:
The relationships MADE this show for me. The true charm of Mad Dog is the relationships, I'll list the 3 that stood out to me.
Ha Ri and Min Joon: dang. That chemistry be something else. Petition for romcom drama starring hwa young (that's her name right?) and do hwan? Anyone? Can we do this? Please. Pretty please? They are FIRE. They're relationship is hilarious, because they know they care, mad dog knows they care, we know they care, and yet they still "pretend" like they don't. They both put up walls, and to see them crack those walls and care for one another is really sweet.
Kang Woo and Min Joon: YEEESSS. I love this relationship! I love how out of everyone on the team, if Min Joon is gonna get emotional and open up with someone, it's gonna be Kang Woo. They understand each other so well, and bring out the best in each other. I loved their bromance, and their heart-felt talks. Kang Woo is like the older brother, who pulls Min Joon into this surrogate family, and they just become so close and I adore it. Definitely one of the highlights of the show for me.
Noo Ri and Min Joon: Is this my favorite relationship? That started in ep 12? and there's 16 ep? Yes. Yes it is. No spoilers, trust me. But Noo Ri, in my opinion, is the first one to so verbally acknowledge Min Joon as part of the Mad Dog family. I mean everyone else acts like it! But Noo Ri verbalizes it. Actions are great, but sometimes people need to be told that they're loved and have a family, and that's what Noo Ri does for Min Joon. Though their scenes are few, their scenes are my favorite moments on the show.
BONUS:
Bum Joon and Min Joon: Want to cry yourself to sleep? Watch this relationship. I can't say much, cause spoilers, but it will break your heart in all the right ways.
Word Choice:
Am I giving a section to word choice? Yes. Yes I am. Because it is just done so well. Literally, any time the word hyung is used, or speech is dropped down a level, is sign of character growth. The word hyung has never meant so much to me before, and that is due to this drama using it the right way all the time. It is never casually used. It's an important word, and whenever used delivers emotion and depth well. This drama is very conscientious of words and how they're used.
Team Work:
The team work in this show is awesome, and honestly the best I've seen. All their interactions are perfect and so cute. Definitely worth it.
Plot:
meh. Watch this show for the relationships and Min Joon. The plot was alright, and whenever it was villain on villain I just turned on my phone. It's not a terrible plot, and I personally loved the Min Joon and Bum Joon story line, it's nothing overly-special. This shows strength and meaning is in its relationships and characterizations.
Music:
Do I have what I want on repeat? Yes I do. Lol. I love the ost in this drama, and the sad song by eric nam, is so calming and peaceful.
Overall, this drama is amazing and I'd highly recommend it. Watching the characters grow, and become closer has been a true delight, and I will miss my Mad Dog family!
Was this review helpful to you?
If your'e a fan of dramas with a great ensemble cast, this one is a must watch. There are no real leads, because each character's story feels important. Lee Yun Hee may be the leader of the tour, but she doesn't really feel any more important than the other characters. I guess "The Package" would be classified as more of a slice of life drama, but because France is such a romantic place, and the characters are literally "coupled off", it definitely feels very romantic (including some surprisingly passionate moments that can be rare in kdramaland). However, I don't just mean literal romance, but more exploring different types of love, and stages of love, and even self love. Part of the fun is getting to know about each relationship, so I won't say too much, only that things not always being as they seem is a major reoccurring theme.
The entire cast is excellent, but I did have my favorites, and not so favorites in the cast. First, I loved Jung Yong Hwa as Ma Roo, and the complete randomness of his character. It would have been so easy to make his character super annoying, but he's so charming that I had no choice but to like him. He's come a long way from his boyish charm in "You're Beautiful", and it was nice to see him as a more mature lead. I was less excited by Lee Yun Hee as So So, who's character did annoy me at times, but she definitely felt real and relatable. She also had to do double language duty, which I can't vouch for as far as accuracy, but if her french was really bad she faked it really well. The rest of the cast is endearing, and felt like real people as well, but the MVPs in my opinion were the older couple, who were frustrating, heartbreaking, and the absolute cutest. I've been on a group vacation once, with mostly strangers, and it definitely captured that dynamic well. The non vacation characters were a lot less developed, and except for So So's boss and brother, they weren't as memorable, but they were all well played.
The story telling is well done, and kept me interested the entire time. At the same time the stories are filled with clichés, some predictable and not so predictable twists, silly humor, and a lot of what felt like manipulating the audience's emotions. Like I said, this drama is big on misunderstandings, so they purposely present some moments in a way that will make you likely to misunderstand them. After a while the obvious misunderstandings were becoming fun, just because I loved watching the character's reactions. Another cool thing was how certain locations were incorporated in the story, so France wasn't just an arbitrary location, but a big part of each character's experience.
Would I watch this again? Definitely. When it was over I had the same feeling I usually have with a good vacation... Although I knew it was a good time for it to be over (12 episodes seemed like the perfect length), I also didn't want it to end, so it left me longing to return. Still, the ending was extremely satisfying, even with some major tropes in full effect, I loved it. It's also the perfect length to binge watch!
The soundtrack was great too, although I don't have any favorite songs, the music definitely added to the atmosphere of the show.
Overall, even with thoughtful themes of self discovery, and some moments that had me in serious tears, this was a mostly feel good drama that I needed. Expect to laugh, cry, and sigh deeply, and possibly want to book a trip to France. (I guess that Air France product placement was well spent). I wasn't sure what to expect when I started watching, but much like the characters signing up for this package vacation, I'm so glad that I decided to take the journey.
Was this review helpful to you?
ACTING/CAST: I really only came to watch Bank Thiti. I watched NHK World's English Dub, since I couldn't find English Sub, and it was...horrific. I don't generally like dubbed stuff overall, but the dubbing was awful. It felt like it was dubbed for an audience comprised of children, or some public service message.
MUSIC: Regular background music, nothing stood out.
REWATCH VALUE: Nah
OVERALL: Maybe I'm overthinking things, but perhaps the intended audience was foreign children who are not familiar with Japan who might want to go there someday when they grow up. BONUS point for shirtless Bank though. +1
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
It is cute, only 8 episodes so a tight story line. It is a slice of life drama based on a true life story. You believe this household exists and the bonds that are there even if only loosely.
And yes Mom loves Kdrama, Alot.
Episode 8 though totally not needed for story progression, be warned.
I enjoyed this, I hope you do too
Was this review helpful to you?
The Legend Of The Blue is that kind of drama you first watch and think: "I think I've seen something similar to that". After all this 'supernatural being meets everyday person' theme can be easily found anywhere, from eastern to western TV and movies. Also, it wasn't the first time the writer touched this subject, actually she did something similar with You Who Came From The Stars.
But even if not original, I liked it anyway. The Little Mermaid feels are strong on this one, and it's done on a very cute and emotional fashion. I also like the fact they basically told two stories at the same time and as the story progressed you could feel the links and similarities. The Joseon Era bits in the beginning gave a melodic, if not overtly fantastic feel for this show.
Ji Hyun once again amazes me with her acting. She's not afraid of being silly, not afraid of looking ugly or like a fool. The way she builds her character is genius. You can see that she's a naive, almost childlike mermaid who is totally new to everything, but being naive doesn't mean she's dumb, because she has her moments of quick thinking and overal awesomeness that gots you cheering and saying "you go girl". Also, it's funny to see her being the supernatural one this time, and starting to experience all kind of human emotions and feels.
Lee Min Ho is also really good here. I don't remember liking him this much in a drama since City Hunter. He makes a good character that is clearly sneaky and not trustworthy, that at the same time has a good heart and a cheery behaviour, he's not like those cold, emotionless peers we see left and right, which is refreshing. Other perfomances were also well done, I particularly liked Lee Hee Joon on this one, mostly because althought he looked perfectly normal and even cheerful on the outside, you never really knew what he was up to or which side he was really in.
Music is not really this drama strong point, but I liked it anyway.
I don't like to compare dramas at all, but I've noticed that the writer is not really good with handling villains. The one in The Legend of The Blue Sea and also the one from You Who Came From The Stars are...unidimmensional to say the least. They have no apparent reasons for being that, except for being "evil". And just being evil for the heck of it can be amusing, like in YWCFTS, but annoying like in TLOTBS.
Overall it's an interesting ride. Not as glorious as it tries to be, but still amusing on it's own right. Is it rewatchable? Yes, but not the kind you'll want to
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
One thing I found interesting is that, each character was pretty aware about their individual attitude. None of them were obnoxious rather each of them knew about what they were doing right and when they are doing wrong. If they realized they were doing something wrong, they were immediately snapped out of it without being too selfish to satisfy their own greed. This fact is pretty likable about this drama.
The background score here is another exceptionally wonderful thing. All the phenomenal English pop songs of early 80s would produce a sensational nostalgia. Although I wasn’t born that time but I grew up listening to those songs on radio with my father. Brought back so many fond memories of my father and me dancing together. Moreover, the OSTs are also beautiful and soothing to listen to.
This drama has its own charm to revitalize ones mood. Fresh young actors playing their roles diligently adds another pleasure of watching. If critically judged, lots of flaws can be identified. However, sometimes no judgment is better. We can keep our life simple just by watching some simple, rejuvenating stuffs after a long day of boring work or in any lazy weekend evening, seeping through a cup of warm coffee.
Was this review helpful to you?
I dont know why I enjoy watching this drama despite the various negative reviews I read from many different sources. People told me that the story is boring and the progress is too slow. However, I gave it a shot and watch this drama. At first, it is because I like UEE and Sung Joon is undoubtedly an eye candy >.<
As I progress through the drama, I found myself liking it even more. I love the story and how the problems developed and finally solved. Although tbh, I skipped all of the elderly parts when I rewatch this drama, it does not mean I like this drama any less; I really love this drama.
Maybe I am weird, but I think the problem brought up in this drama is unique. Never did they come across a drama where a guy deceived the girl to this extreme. Nevertheless, I did not hate Sung Joon. In fact, I love how he gradually realizes his feelings.
My love for this drama also emerges because of the casts. They are all so good. All of them really demonstrate what is it like to be someone who is in love, heartbroken, desperate and hopeless. I smiled and cried with all of them. While most of the people who watch this drama like the second couple more than the main couple, I personally prefer the lead couple - maybe because of a personal reason. I am a logical person who is skeptical about love, looking at the main couple, it makes me think that maybe love does exist. I also love how both of them grow with love. UEE grows into someone stronger while Sung Joon grows into someone more humane. Maybe I am weird, but I enjoy the heartbreaks - especially when UEE found out about everything. I have one question tho, how can Sung Joon's stare be so deep and gloomy? I really admire his gaze; so heart-flattering <3
For the second couple, I love how they overcome their problems too. I love Ji Yeon's positive and cheerful attitude; really wish I could be that cheerful. I also love how Hyung Sik changes as he fell in love. Unlike the typical chaebol who USUALLY give up on his love, Hyung Sik fight for his love. Proud of him!
Moreover, the songs are also very suitable for different scenes. I usually do not give much attention to the songs played during various scenes. However, since the songs in this drama are very impactful, I can't help but notice how suitable they are for the scenes. Great job!
I recommend this drama for those who are looking for something meaningful. However, you guys should be prepared for some draggy business and elderly related matters tho :D My suggestion, when you watch it for the first time, watch everything. When you rewatch it, just skip those parts as you aready has a grasp of what is going on - this is what I usually do hehe.. I only rewatch this drama to re-feel the heartbreaks I felt when watching this drama; kinda weird but this is my reason :D
Was this review helpful to you?
All the staff worked very hard to bring us the talent could see on the screen.
ACTING:
As I said before, the acting was the best point of the whole movie. It pulled me in so fast and refused to let go. I really loved the play and honestly, that scene shocked me so much. I know our Singer is a young actor, but....don't hate me, but I did NOT expect such amazing acting but I was very suprised and for sure I'll follow his future work as well. With our Jae Ha it was just as I expected and even better. The relationship which was potrayted in the movie is not easy to show but the two leads had such great chemistry between each other...I can't even explain with words how good it was. It was a match made in Heaven. Everything looked so real that for a second I really thought that they are together in real life.
STORY:
Before the movie came out, me and many others started to picture the movie in our heads and guess the plot/ending. I must say, yes, the movie was a bit predictable but still I enjoyed it and loved to see that my theories were in some parts true. The idea of method acting romance is amazing but I must say I want to see more. I expected it to give us the deeper insight in characters lives, not just Jae Ha's. If this was 2 hour movie I think it would be much better. I won't spoil the ending so watch it, but overall the story IS very good but not well described which is the fault of the run time.
MUSIC:
No comment. I have ALL the songs in my phone on replay, yes it is that good. I just love instrumental music so much and when u know at which scenes it was played, your head automatically takes u there.
REWATCH VALUE:
I watched it today, but i'm going to watch it again so yes, definetly in my top 10 fav movies.
Was this review helpful to you?
It is simply a drama which has compelled me to reevaluate my standards, to reconsider a lot of the 9 and 10 ratings that I have been so easily giving to other dramas.
Some may consider my review a bit exaggerated or over-the-top, but to me this sensational drama, was a huge surprise on many levels. It’s a drama that has sucked me in and left a very deep impression on me just after watching the first episode, I was determined to watch the whole thing and confident I would love every second of it. And so it was.
On paper this drama may seem like it does not differ from many other detective and law dramas, but with a mystery woven with utmost precision, a thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat, and a highly engaging battle for justice, all aided by a perfect cast and direction, this drama was anything but usual.
The drama's title was perfectly fitting to its premise, it delivers an intricate web of mystery and doubts, that just as advertised, anyone can be guilty. Watching this drama, you will constantly find yourself doubting a certain character, then trusting it, only to later harbor even stronger doubts toward him/her. The story was so smartly written, that it can so easily trick the smartest of viewers, sending fake signals; seemingly flags pointing to a certain character, only to later turn out to be a complete red-herring.
But one of the main strong points of this drama was, the perfectly executed characterization aided by the cast’s very strong and solid performance. Most of the characters, particularly the main ones, were multi-layered, with complicated backgrounds, some even deeply messed up. You could hardly label anyone “Protagonist” or “antagonist”, you find yourself liking and at the same time harboring doubts towards the same character. The characters are so believable and realistic, that however much their actions may seem unethical or outrageous, you still mysteriously relate to them, feel for them, and even sometimes love them.
But what really made such beautifully written story, script and characterization shine was the acting. There was not a single easy character to portray here, all thanks to the concept of the detective mystery; where you never know who’s not to trust and who’s to trust. The story also relied on a highly sophisticated script, which made use of a lot of blank sequences of silence with minimum or no monologues, but which still served to convey a ton of information and emotions.
All such aspects, required high acting techniques, where even the slightest look, change of expression or even lack of one, can make all the difference.
This is a drama that have time and again surprised me. Not because of all the obvious strong points that I mentioned above, but because it redefined even the small things, like what defines two characters’ chemistry, or what counts as a strong cliffhanger. Does chemistry have to be of a romantic type, involving gestures, confessions and skin-ship? Or is there another type of chemistry; a mental and emotional one, where two minds and souls so mysteriously and effortlessly relate, and share feelings of deep trust and respect. Such are the chemistries that do not require a major progress on a romantic level to attract and excite a viewer, but where a small gesture of courtesy, or an expression of high-regard, can leave you more satisfied than any other stomach butterflies.
With a very unique story, and an even more unique set of characters and events, this drama to me felt like I was rediscovering just how much perfect K-Dramas can be. Watching it, I felt so impressed, I sometimes thought how blessed I am to have been a K-Drama fan. I kept saying to myself, Hollywood should really learn one thing or two from Korean thrillers and detective dramas, feelings which made me all the more delighted to hear that it was actually airing on Netflix! It also posed as a reassurance, that this drama is receiving the attention and recognition it is worthy of.
I normally do not ship for sequels however much I love a drama (like Signal or Misaeng), but I found myself strongly wishing they’d consider producing a sequel for Stranger, preferably with the same cast. Keeping my fingers crossed that news circulating of an intention for a sequel is not a hoax.
Normally, I’d give different recommendations to different genre fans, like for instance if a certain drama lacks romance or comedy aspects, I’d advice a Rom-Com fan to approach with caution. But in this drama’s case, I send my strongest recommendations to every one! Including newcomers to K-Drama land. By all means, give the first episode I try and you won’t regret what happens afterwards.
Was this review helpful to you?
Story: I really liked the plot, even though I watched the movie without subtitles and barely understood what was being said, the plot was still good. There was action and thriller element in it. I might have flashforwarded quite a bit due to the fact that I did not understand what was being said, but the plot was really good! It especially got excited when she meets her other selves, and how Xia Tan becomes smarter and bolder each time she travles through time to save her son.
Acting: I´m not going to lie I watched this for Yang Mi, and she did not disappoint me, her acting was really great! Her characters desperation to save her son really hit me hard. And her action scenes were pretty cool too.
Huo Wallace just has something about his looks and the vibe that he gives off that makes it believable that he is a bad guy, so definitely a thumbs up to him!
Music: I didn´t particularly care or listen to it, so that´s why I´m giving it a score of 5.
Rewatch value: I would honestly watch it again, because the plot was intriguing and the acting was really good!
Overall: This was a really great movie, and if you´re bored you should definitely watch it! If you love the actors, then you should definitely watch it to catch their awesome action scenes and acting skills.
If you actually managed to read this horrible review, then thumbs up to you XD!
Was this review helpful to you?
Recent Discussions
-
Which Was the Last Drama Episode You Watched? Part 312 minutes ago -
Last Korean food or drink you ate?12 minutes ago -
Who do You Prefer?13 minutes ago -
What was the last manga/manhwa series you completed?13 minutes ago -
Last Japanese song you listened to? #213 minutes ago
