Reviews

There's so much to say about this drama but not enough words to describe the effects that I'm still feeling after watching it. This is hands-down one of the best dramas I've ever had the pleasure of pushing aside my studies for. I loved it so much, I found myself watching all of the BTS and the bloopers.

The plot was never boring and I had a blast being taken on this emotional rollercoaster. I'll be honest, it'll be hard to watch some of your ships sink, but don't give up! Because it's the ships that do sail that will make it worthwhile to stick out until the end. That doesn't count as a spoiler, right? Anyways, everything from the costumes to the cinematography was absolutely stunning... And you know the storyline is good when those 45 minutes per episode just fly by.

Yang Mi and Mark Chao did such an amazing job portraying their characters. They did so well, they deserve a standing ovation. Their chemistry on set was undeniable, and I sincerely hope there comes a day when they would be reunited by another drama. But this isn't to say that the other actors/actresses didn't do well. They all exceeded my expectations and everyone looked so beautiful.  I loved them all, including the antagonists.

The soundtrack for this drama killed me (x1000). It was as if they knew exactly when to play it; and when they did, all those feelings felt like arrows going straight through my cold, brittle heart. But props to them for making me feel some type of way.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this to anyone who's looking for a good heart squeeze. But be warned because ever since I finished it, I've been having serious withdrawal symptoms and I don't think this is going to go away anytime soon. The only way to solve this problem would be to rewatch it. But I have to keep from doing that because finals are around the corner and I don't want to dig myself a deeper hole here. But you guys are more than welcome to! (Kidding, but not really.)

With that said,
Llama out.

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It was interesting movie, first I like because Chiu Prince is similiar with Ji Chang Wook . But meanwhile I like the character that Li Zheng and Shao Xi have. Li Zheng is calm, but quietly protect Shao Xi while Shao Xi didn't realized that. Shao Xi is to open to show her heart feeling to Li Zheng, but I think it's ok because the caracter Li Zheng is too quetly. For the other cast like they friends and parent are  very support, so this movie become sweet romantic comedy movie. This story was fun and attracting, makes me cannot wait to next episode. Sometimes I cannot guess what will happen next. But I think Li Zheng wasting time to say love to Shao Xi. And my expectation the end of the story till they get married (because based on info they have 16 episodes, but it's only 15 episodes). In the end just Shao Xi get sibling. Overall I like the story. Cannot wait chiu prince next movies.

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Firstly, due to the abundance of dramas that are similar to this one, I had very low expectations, especially since each episode was 1 hour long. but I was gobsmacked when I watched the first episode and then I just couldn't stop. It was romantics, funny and dark.

The only problem was the story-line. i understand that they wanted to make the show dark, but with the added humor and romance it was just too much. It just didn't blend well and it kind of made me less interested in the show.

The music was great I loved the music they played during episode 4, and the romantic music they played in episode 16. This is probably one of the little dramas that I've seen which have goo music. The cast was great! I totally ship Park Bo  Young and Park Hyung Shik. The acting was amazing and the emotional scenes made me teary.

I would definitely re-watch this drama, and would recommend it to anyone who is thinking of watching it.

Overall I would give this a 9/10 mainly because I have difficulty finding good dramas mainly because of my preferences when it comes to story-lines.

Hope this helped :)

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This show had so may feels happy sad scared emotional. Either way it was a great  show. The whole cast did great from beginning to end. Gong yoo and lee dong wook oppa tog in one show was daebak. I love them individually. New girl kim go eun captured me from her drama cheese in the trap. She has a very natural innocent believable acting one cant say that shes actually in character. Yoo in na on the other hand is a beauty and her character was very important for the show. Yook sungjae who played duk hwa did a tremendous job with his innocence and weirdness which added laughter to the show. Goblin and grim reaper were perfect and their bromance was ship worthy.  Must see. I would probably watch again. I'm having goblin withdrawals.  I think I'll visit canada to the filming locations. Here is a summary.  ***Overseas Filming] Quebec, Canada. Petit-Champlain District. Chateau Frontenac Hotel. Parc du Bastion-de-la-Reine (Green pastures with the Tombstones (Props)) Fontaine de Tourny. Rue Sainte-Ursule. Parc Samuel-Hollande (Gong Yoo catching the falling maple leaf) Porte Prescott (Bridge that Eun Tak walked)*****

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Phim hay quá, cách làm c?a Hàn kô có ?y m? nh? Thái, VN hay ?ài Loan, di?n viên ?óng c?ng ??t ch? kô ph?i làm ch?i ch?i tay ngang. Tình yêu trong phim này th? hi?n ? s? quan tâm nhau ? nh?ng chi ti?t nh?, t?ng c? ch? nh? (nh?ng b?c ?nh, nh?ng lý do ng?y bi?n ?? dc ? g?n b?n, chi?c giày, cái cúc áo, c?p vé tàu, cái chích ?i?n, cái th? nh?, v.v..), dù nó kô ph?i là 1 tình yêu màu h?ng nh?ng là tình yêu có chi?u sâu, m?i c?nh 2 di?n viên chính ? bên nhau ??u là nh?ng c?nh ??t giá. K? thu?t làm phim, k?ch b?n di?n xu?t, hóa trang, ch?n nh?c, m?i th? ??u tuy?t v?i. Hi v?ng 1 vài th? h? n?a thì VN có th? cho ra ??i 1 b? phim nh? v?y.

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I was able to avoid having to read this in high school but I did know it by reputation and really wasn't interested in it.  But being the completionist that I am I wanted to bring my Yamapi watched list to current.  I am now sorry I waited as long as I did to see it because Yamashita Tomohisa totally owned the main part in this.  His mannerisms in the beginning are spot on, we have a friend of the family who is autistic and I recognized the signs. As the story and the character changed so did the acting and you believed it.

Yamapi has been criticized in the past for his "wooden acting" but this work just blew it out of the water.

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What is right? What is wrong? What even is justice after all? Is the law always above everything? This drama conveys these subjects and others in such a way that you can't help but feel drawn by it.

The story is original and unpredictable, however what really sucks you into are the characters. None of them is your typical hero or heroine. Obviously there's still a drawn line between protagonist and villlain, but you won't find perfectly moral and just people who always fight for the right. And that's what makes it so interesting, the inner conflicts of each character and their relationships with others and the law as well.

Lee Bo Young does an incredible work with Jang Hye Sung. I'll admit that I had a problem with her character in the beginning, but as I started to see her layers I started to appreaciate, and even like her prickly yet quirky personality. Also, althought the first drama I watched with Lee Jong Suk left a bad taste on my mouth, I still managed to like his skill and his character as well. He did a good job.

Kudos for Yoon Sang Hyun who did a good job as Attorney Cha haha Sometimes he was irritating and obnoxious, but in the end we all knew he was a good person. He also was a good contrast with Hye Sung's detached (at first) approach to her job. As for Jung Woon In, his villain at first seemed kinda generic and uni dimensional, however as the episodes went by we start to see his real self and motives. Obviously nothing excuses what he did, but at least you feel bad for the guy and even shed some tears.

My only problems with this drama were only two: the lack of both romance and a good represation of law. I know I'm not an expert, but some things were kinda cringy to watch, especially coming from people who are, supposedly, impartial and unbiased. As for the romance, I admit I'm a huge sucker for fluffy and squee-worthy moments, but I can kind of understand since the main focus of drama seems to be on the law/mystery/thriller aspect. Still, the small amount of moments was good.

Also, I don't have a problem with age gap, and even if you have don't worry too much because that isn't even the focus (althought focusing more on it would be interesting for the drama).

The music was good but forgetable. I like OSTs that not only are good, but also make me want to download it and listen, hence the slightly low (compared to the other aspects) grade.

Overall it's a very good drama. Not my favorite, but good anyway and I guess I'll rewatch it one day, more than once actually. It has a good feeling to it despite it's heavy themes, so it's pleasant to watch.

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SUMMARY
A love story between a human and a merman king. Includes an element of gender-bending (at the very beginning of the series), prominent vengeance plot and a few other cute pairings between other characters.
NOTE: This is a prequel to The Starry Night, the Starry Sea, which is set in modern times.
If you haven’t watched season one, I would recommend watching this one first, because otherwise you would know the outcome of S2.

PLOT
I would say that it is a mix of innovative and typical elements. The creative side of the drama is that the main male lead is a mermaid (or rather a merman). However, quite a few aspects of how the plot is executed are very standard for the land of dramas. Also, there is not much variation or unpredictability in how events unravel. The drama remains interesting as episodes progress (and there can be a lot of angst/anxiety involved), but I wished that some of the characters could change their behaviour, because it makes the drama a little monotonous.
On the plus side, there are quite a few side characters, each with their own little story (there is a really funny couple, a tragic couple and a few other characters that we get to know during the course of the drama). Besides main and secondary pairings, there is also an aspect of brotherhood, loyalty and friendship between various character groups, all of which enhance the plot.

ACTING
In short; good, but not breath-taking. Quite a few viewers seem to complain about the female lead. I think she was just ok. I would say that, in turn, the male lead could be accused of having too few expressions.

MUSIC
Generally very good and fitting the situation. Includes a few songs (Zhou Shen is one of the singers!) and some instrumental tracks as well.

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Scarlet Heart is an anomaly for me. Everything about it is something that I would normally not enjoy or watch for anything other than a quick laugh or meme. Yet, I loved this drama. I loved every minute of it. I binged watched Scarlet Heart in three days and was enthralled every second. The cast was fun and bright, filled with Korean superstars, and in my opinion everyone was perfect for their role. The OSTs were some of the best I've ever heard, perfect for every emotion the show conveys; this soundtrack is beaten only by Goblin's in my opinion. Even the plot, though perhaps the most trope filled I've encountered since Boys Over Flowers, was wonderful; it was playful and fun at times and devastatingly sad at others. Scarlet Heart was able to strike a balance between light and emotional that many other dramas fail to achieve. For this reason it was able to capture my heart on a very different level, one of enjoying a drama for the fun of it instead of for a deep investment, than dramas like Goblin and Secret Garden, which normally receive perfect scores on my list.

I thought the best part of this drama was Lee Joon Gi and his portrayal of Wang So. Wang So is my ideal drama lead. He's incredibly sad, has a laundry list of deep personal issues, and underneath it all a heart of gold. He is desperately lonely throughout the majority of the show and any time he seems to clutch happiness it's ripped away from him. I love anything sad so this is perfect for me. Lee Joon Gi captured my heart in this drama. I cried even when he smiled. I cried for three straight days and still cry when I listen to Will Be Back. I watched this drama over a year ago and yet I still think about it constantly. Most of those thoughts revolve around Wang So; that is truly how compelling I found him. Watching the character development So goes through was amazing. He is almost unrecognizable in the 16th episode compared to the 1st. The adorable moments with IU's Hae Soo brought the character fully to life. I truly believed in their love by the drama's conclusion. They made me want that love for myself.

On the note of Hae Soo her character is also worth discussing. I am a huge IU fan. I say that outright because my analysis of her acting will undoubtedly be influenced by my opinions of her as a singer. I personally thought Hae Soo was adorable. Her interactions with all the princes was very sweet and she had a very kind disposition. That being said I know IU is not the world's best actress. Hae Soo as a character was also very stagnant and had the misfortune of being the 'positive thinking female in the face of adversity' trope come to life; literally nothing that happened could break her spirit and it eventually came off as rather ridiculous. She was also unfortunately caught in a reverse harem that I wanted no part of. I chose to ignore this and focus on the main romance but I can see this being a major annoyance for some. Overall I felt she served her function well and highlighted So, the princes, and the plot perfectly.

Overall I loved this drama for the little moments. The brotherly interactions with the princes, the private scenes of love, the small gestures of kindness and warmth between all of the characters. The plot as a whole was nothing spectacular and the ending leaves a sour unfinished taste in one's mouth. Even with all of that I loved this show. The princes were funny, cute, melancholy, sweet, loving, caring, devious, and everything in between and Hae Soo (mostly) lived my dream. If you're looking for a fun light hearted drama that is 30% sad, 20% funny, 20% heart warming,  and 30% meme this is the right one for you.

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All the cast were great but of course (I am a Takuya Kimura fan through and through) Manji was the best. The fight scenes were fluid. It was bloody, very, but it was executed finely, I never had a look-away-it-is-gross moment. Miike did a great job of directing this, everything was just on point. And Takuya's voice was so manly, it was just how I imagine Manji would sound when I read the manga version. Takuya Kimura did an excellent job of portraying Manji, it is like he strips off his persona and wears this new person. You wouldn't even recognize him as his previous characters.

The over-all execution was really awesome, flawless, for me. The flow of the film from the black and white to the colored one was superb. I am not a big fan of bloody movies but I am glad I watched this. I am also very glad that they stuck to the manga as best as they can.
 
If there is one this I feel that is lacking, it is the musical scoring. I don't know if it was as intended but I felt like some scenes would have been more effective with a good background music.

Full review here: https://elijahmaliksmom.wordpress.com/2017/11/14/blade-of-the-immortal/

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How can 26 episodes seem like 100? This felt like a daily in disguise. Play a drinking game for everytime someone threatens to break up.

Yes it's entertaining, until you realize that some of the roadblocks (Mi Ran) could've been easily dealt with.

I mean who lets a crazy woman have keys to their house? It is also a good example of how not to treat a mental patient that so obviously needs help.

I woudn't watch it again and would warn others to not feel guilty about FF through parts.

There were other storylines besides our love triangle but, I honestly don't remember what happened with them or the names and I just finished the drama after watching a second time. (I couldn't remember watching this drama and had to satisfy my curiosity as to why)

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Most short romance web dramas tend to follow a pretty straight forward formula and this one makes it feel like it's going to be the case... at first. This might look like a fluffy romance, but it's not. The best thing about this drama it's not full of mary sues and all characters are flawed in ways that make them seem more human.

Unfortunately I feel time was poorly used and the story takes a little to long to get where it starts getting really interesting and it stays there for too little time. But even with all the missed opportunities it's still an interesting story.  It's about as long as a feature film, so it's worth a watch.

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Faith is by far the most mature drama I've seen. The romance was so subtle that at times I found it frustrating. I went in expecting tropes and instead I was hit with an understated and subdued relationship. A rather shocking find in dramaland. At first I didn't know how to handle it. I wanted to shake them both and scream for the first 12 episodes. However, once I realized that Faith didn't play by the traditional drama rules, which happened to coincide with the romance plot picking up speed, I was so pleased. I really enjoyed this drama and people may question why I've only given it a 7 overall but allow me to explain.

First the romance, my favorite part of the drama and the aspect of it that saves Faith for me. The relationship between Eun Soo and Choi Young was breathtaking to witness. The subtlety with which Lee Minho portrayed Young's emotions made me truly respect him as an actor. He conveyed so much feeling through the tiniest of gestures, and Kim Hee Sun replied in kind to Minho's every glance, sigh, and emotional flicker. It was like watching a dance. Never once throughout the entire drama did i question Young and Eun Soo's love for one another. There were none of the tried and true tropes found in the more adolescent love stories that rule dramaland. In this way the romance in Faith reminded me a lot of Emergency Couple: mature, mutual, dedicated, and responsible. If the drama was nothing but this romance it would receive a 9 from me in a heartbeat.

The plot is where I lay many of my criticisms. While Faith lacked many of the romance tropes that plague dramaland it was rife with them in the main plot. I found myself frequently bored by the side characters (not the king and queen who were both lovely but some of the lesser characters) and constantly questioning the villain's motivation. I did not understand the need for the fantasy/supernatural aspects of the main plot (barring the time travel); this aspect of the drama was in my opinion its weakest point. It undermined an otherwise very serious portrayal of life's difficult choices and great triumphs. The plot could simply have been better constructed and the drama cut down by at least 4 episodes. So much time I would rather have spent on the beautifully constructed romance was spent instead on bad plot. This is the main reason for my rating.

I hope this was helpful. Faith was a beautiful drama but not one I would recommend to those that require constant stimulation. It is slow and subdued. I do, however, recommend this highly to anyone who loves Lee Minho; this is, in my opinion, his best role.

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Though the title does suggest something completely different happens, the movie overall is really light hearted and fun. It was a good watch to cheer me up right before exams. The story was great, though I do think that they could have added a bit more to the movie as it did seem a little bit rushed. The acting was okay, not the best, but it did seem like the two main leads had fun when making the film and that did translate into the on screen performance as well. The music didn't really stand out much, the only song I really noticed was the slow ballad towards the end, though it was a very nice song. Honestly, I would rewatch this again, it does provide a good laugh in a short amount of time with a touch of a good romance story.

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