Reviews

I honestly loved this drama to pieces. I almost didn't want to watch it, but decided to just give it a go in between other, more emotionally demanding dramas. I think that the main advantage of this drama are the dialogues and the dynamic between the main characters. It's just pure joy to watch. The other great advantage of this show is a clever usage of music. It had me laugh out loud many times. That being said, I was not as engrossed in the lives of the office couple as I was in the story of the two friends. I really liked the fact that I was able to relate to many of the issues in this drama. The characters are just regular people who have dreams or are just trying to survive. It's also an interesting analysis of the Korean society in which we see that having a certain position makes you immediately more attractive and seemingly raises your value as a person. I went through similar issues myself. Things like friendship, confusion, awakening feelings, moral dilemmas, struggles of finding employment and climbing the corporate ladder.. are a part of life. I loved how real the problems in the story were at the beginning of the drama. It gets a little more fairy-tale like towards the end and we also have an unexpected turn during the last couple of episodes, but nonetheless the show is just really enjoyable to watch. I actually watched it twice already even though I don't re-watch dramas too often. In many ways it reminded me of Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo and the Sassy Go Go, but it seemed to be a more adult version of those shows. If you liked WFKBJ, I think you will enjoy this drama as well.

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I enjoyed the premise, but I wish that the side characters from both bands played a larger role. I was also hoping for more depth from the traditional music elements of the story. I almost dropped this one because of the age inappropriate crush at the beginning, so thankfully that angst got out of the way fairly quickly. I was also less than thrilled with the cartoonish mean-girls clique. The actors were fine, but some story and character issues kept me from really attaching to any of them.

The biggest surprise of Heartstrings is that for a show about music, most of the music is unmemorable. Apart from that one great modern/traditional mix, none of the songs stood out.

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Sad? Happy, or bittersweet?

Everyone has different opinion on this drama, because everypne's feelings are different. Some tell themselves that it's like a history lesson, while others feel and live with the characters while they watch the drama.

Even before I started this drama, I said to myself that based on the plot I could guess the ending so I tried to prepare my heart. I even decided NOT to watch it but then, gave it a try. Was it a curse or destiny? I can't decide because I was hooked from episode 1! The plot is very interesting and u can't get bored. Because in every new episode a new obstacle and drama will be added. The politics are wicked and whole country is in turmoil.

This drama did not only potrait the strong love between Yi Yeok and Chae Gyung but also how the country works and how politics change. I could really feel the misery that people had to go through while Yi Yong was on throne. Do I feel sympathy with characters? Yes and no. I can see why Yeok fights against his brother. And honestly, it is good because ask yourself if you would let YOUR people, your Juseon die under your rule. He was a strong leader who many times chose people over Chae Gyung which was wonderful but sad at same time? It's not easy for wife to see her husband go to a''war''. Many critize Chae Gyung's character that she is going back and fort between Yeok and Yong but all I can see is brotherly love for Yong. Why does she help him? Because even tho he is cruel and bad...he is family. In those times family ment a LOT.

Overall, story was amazing and very unique in some way. It potraited reality, which in some way is sad.

Acting was phenomenal, those actors owned their roles and showed us also great chemistry.

Music...oh I keep listening to Junggigo on repeat guys, it's just amazing love song ( and this comes from someone, who hates love songs )

Will I rewatch it? No, but it IS worth it for sure...it's just my heart is too weak.

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I haven't watched a lot of kdramas, this one was the second and I started watching it by chance because it was on Netflix. It captivated me in the first episode, some of the scenes has an european cinema scent, for example the way they talk about sex or the way they show common things like going to the bathroom or having your period. The serie itself doesn't have a strong rythm until the last two or three episodes but the pace isn't boring at all, the construction of each character is wonderful and the production helps a lot, each chapter focuses in one of the five protagonists and the way it get interrelated with the stories of the other four girls. I usually look for dramatic series with strong dosis of romanticism, but this one about five young women living together, struggling to overcome their days and their fears and dealing with the little stuff of life like the convivence between young adults is just too enchanting to not fall in love with this kdrama. The cast is super good, I especially liked Han Ye Ri (Yoon Jin Myeong) and her stoic and yet moving acting, I couldn't control my tears when she was suffering in silence viewing how hard her life was, and Park Eun Bin (Song Ji Won) with her silliness and her existencials talks -I feel represented by her, that's maybe why-. The only one I didn't like that much is Park Hye Soo (Yoo Eun Jae), she's a bit plain and way too innocent for this kind of kdrama which hasn't have the typical girl protagonist with tons of aegyo, but anyways she won't be in season 2 so it's okey. The boys in this serie are lovely, enchanting and the chemistry with the five girls is good. The music fits perfectly but for me is not too remarkable. I'm really looking forward season 2. GO WATCH THIS, you won't regret it!!

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“In each of us, two natures are at war – the good and the evil. All our lives the fight goes on between them, and one of them must conquer. But in our own hands lies the power to choose – what we want most to be we are.”
- Robert Louis Stevenson

“You take people, you put them on a journey, you give them peril, you find out who they really are.”
- Joss Whedon

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If I were to describe this drama with one word, it would be:

Misleading - complex - secretive - slowly seething - engraving

Yeah, okay. Those were not only one word but five. But as difficult as it is to categorize each character in this story, it's also impossible to find only one word or one saying that would cover every beautiful aspect about this whole show.

Hwang Shi Mok, a prosecutor who lacks the ability to feel any emotion since a surgery in his childhood, and Han Yeo Jin, a police lieutenant, team up to fight corruption in the prosecutor's office. That pretty much describes it all and the summary above is also very accurate about the key points.

-- Misleading --
I admit that I was a little skeptical and hesitant before I started this drama. Prosecutors and corruption. Not again... But my worries were groundless. Even though this drama is indeed about those things, the whole set-up differs alot from your usual k-drama structure. Sometimes and especially in the beginning you might think that many things are predictable. But you will soon be disabused. You'll learn that every scene, every move and every obvious incident has always two maybe even three faces to them. You can never be sure about what you see right in front of you.

-- Complex --
The characters in this story are as cunning and sly as the story around them. There is not one person you can be certain about and only the finale will reveal everyone's true nature. Only at the far end you'll see the whole picture. So, be aware of the fact that you have to pay a lot of attention.

-- Secretive --
Imagine each one of these people as trees with many branches - long and short ones, thick and thin ones which symbolize their every wish, desire, greed, ambition and so much more. Everyone hides in the shadows. Some of them stand in a light grey, others in far darker places. But it doesn't automatically make them bad people. And I loved that the drama conveyed that as well.

-- Slowly seething --
The story flow might seem a little dragging here and there but you shouldn't forget that this a drama that focuses much on the corruption in the prosecutor's office and never loses its way. It's "slowly seething", as I was describing it in the beginning.

-- Engraving --
The music is subtle and so well set that you are left with deep impressions every time an episode ends - even though the narrative flow might seem slow-paced. And let me tell you that this drama has one of the most captivating final episodes I've seen so far.

-- Forest of Secrets --
Never was drama title more accurate.

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“If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each man's life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility.”
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

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Just marathoned Ode to Joy and Ode to Joy 2! So many things I love about this show, especially this season.

I agree with others and thought this season was better. I think this way because the friendship was already established, and there was less bitterness between Xiao Xiao vs Ying Ying/Sheng Mei. There were more instances in the 5 of them sitting together and sorting the problems out together instead of just a few of them at once.

I though Guan Ju was very relatable to me during the first half of the show. Everyone had boyfriends/work to keep them busy and she felt quite alone. She joined classes and kept busy instead. She was also a great friend to the rest of them, her relationship with each of the other girls was so pure and special.
Despite being loud and sometimes annoying Xiao Xiao was one of my favourites along with Andy. Xiao Xiao has strong opinions on what is moral and stuck by them and anything that was unfair, I like how honest and ruthless she was in most situations. How she did not put up with Sheng Mei's family and also Ying Qin backward thinking! So badass and just. Andy was so objective and fair in most situations and decisions (apart from her own)

Loved loved Bao so much. Such a wonderful character!!! I wish Bai Chuan didn't have to struggle so much the whole drama, and was really frustrated at how Sheng Mei treated him at times.
Ying Ying annoyed me too much. This girl is just so stupid and ignorant at times. The bit when she says Guan forgets friends when she gets a boy. GIRL you disappeared when you got with Manager Bai (?) and Ying Qin - who are you to talk! I just wish she took other peoples feelings and thoughts into perspective. Also her hatred or wariness of Xiao Xiao (over Manager Bais betrayal) lasted way too long. Get over it girl. Xiao Xiao just exposed what a jerk he was to you. Be thankful not hateful.

Guan and Xie Tong's relationship was cute, and they were so well suited!

Overall, a wonderful drama with relatable experiences and characters!

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This is such a lovely family drama, so many wonderful characters. Some of my favourites below:

Grandmother and Grandfather - These two were definitely my favourites. They were so cute together and the love between them. Especially in the later episodes when he looks after her. Also him asking her to sing for him. Grandfather was also one of the best Grandfathers in kdrama world, he was so wise and smart, made great decisions most of the time and stood by right and wrong.

The Uncle - Oh how much I disliked him at the start! But grew to love this character. So thoughtful. How did he stay single and unmarried for so long. Mum and Uncle

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I'm actually a pretty big fan of GDH but I'll try to write as a typical film lover. If you happen to be a fan of this production, this film will surely live up your excitements and expectations. don't. ever. miss. this. one.

The creativity for this movie is so on point! People need to show more appreciation for how thrilling this simple film about exam turn out to be. There's no killing or harming, yet this film succeed to get you on the edge of your seat. (Thanks to the superb acting, cinematography and the intense music.) I think the selling point about Bad Genius is that we all once were in their shoes---or you might once cheated at some points of your life. The movie explain well with the character development to the point where I respect her decision to cheat. You read that right, watch the movie and see for yourself!

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It had so much potential to become phenomenal but the directing/editing team just wasted all the potential with dragging later episodes and disappointing ending. It became such a disappointment when you had so much expectations for the drama with such a great premise and great casts. Like everyone who watched would say, the drama deviates so much from the synopsis which would mislead the expectations. I had expected a more action-packed female heroine-themed drama based around the spy networks. But, the spies became only a small theme of the drama while it focused and dragged so much on one sub-plot which is the revenge of Yan Xun. And the ending!! It is very clear that they gave us an open ending to keep the potential for Season 2 but seriously, can't they just give closure to us? It's not like they have well-planned to give Season 2 with all the casts back.

Well ,enough with my rants. Despite the flaws and disappointments, I still gave a very high rating because of all the feels I experienced while watching. YWY alone saved the drama. I might be biased in saying this but regardless of how tired I got from watching it dragged and dragged, I still continued watching it because of YWY and XingYue couple. Last time, I watched TMOPB, I thought Ye Hua must be the most suffering hero in all C-drama, but YWY just took the title. His love was so selfless and understanding that he does not ask for her to stay but only wants her to live happily. And of course, LGX brought YWY to life. Chu Qiao was very appealing and satisfying to watch as a female heroine who rose from slave status to a famous general in the beginning; yet, it became a subdued character in later episodes when she kept staying besides Yan Xun despite all that he has done. And the romance felt real and the two had so much chemistry that even with all the separations, every scene they are together, so much emotions felt between them.

Acting-wise, all the casts did a very great job. No one was lacking in his/her role. LGX especially stood out for me because his portrayal of YWY was majestic. ZLY, of course, did justice to her character. I didn't mention much of YX character because I wasn't a big fan of his, yet, Shawn Dou also did a great job portraying his character change.

So, to conclude, regardless of all the flaws and negative points, it was one of the great dramas this year, evidenced by the ratings and online views. I would still recommend to watch it if you are a great fan of Chinese historical/wuxia dramas and if you are a fan of either of the main leads and of course, if you can stand their pace and editing style.

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