Reviews

Sonny, Ji Chang Wook, and Sung Dong Il save the show!

Unhappy and abused throughout his childhood, Gyeo Re has no will to live anymore and almost end his life, if not for an encounter with the lead of a volunteer team at a hospice facility, when a new and better life began for Gyeo Re.

Despite my appreciation for this show, it might not suit everyone’s palate as it is set in an end-of-life care home or hospice center – so people die throughout the drama. There’s child abuse, violence and also, Gyeo Re’s dying dog. Please watch only if you can handle the subject matter.

This drama gives you faith and funny moments, but the highlight for me is Gyeo Re, his dog and Tae Shik. They both have a sad past and their arcs become the heart of this drama. Eventually, they really brought out the best in each other.My heart is wrecked with the dog story cause I wanted him to survive, he's just so adorable.. I was bracing myself throughout because I don’t know if he’s gonna make it and how it will break Gyeo Re too.I was looking forward to developments in Gyeo Re’s childhood friend and glad that they give the good one. I wasn't expecting the romance and the mystery plot line, which really distanced me from the characters. I'm happy enough with the ending.

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beautiful, creepy, meaningful and lustful

Despite being a skilled worker, Moon Gang Tae (Kim Soo Hyun) struggles to settle in one psychiatric ward for longer than a year; which seems to be due to his and his brother's Sang Tae (Oh Jung Se) trauma and current situation. One day, he met a successful author Ko Moon Young (Seo Yea Ji), who writes dark-toned children's fairytales and who is obsessed with him at the first sight. There are reasons of why these people are the way like they are, and those reasons seems to be darker than as it seems as first…

I really enjoyed this drama for the cinematography, vibes and unique animated visuals of the fairy tales. They’re beautiful, creepy, and perfectly represent our female lead, Ko Moon Young. It’s fun how she was introduced as a dark fantasy writer aimed at children, who has a kleptomania for knives. Seo Ye Ji was phenomenal portraying her every movement and talk, showing Moon Young’s psycho and powerful aura. At times I got bored with the plot, but she’s the reason for me to keep watching. Her chemistry with Gang Tae, can only be said as seductive. The tension between them was intoxicating, especially the firsts times when they were enemies. Another thing, the Moon brotherhood were so genuine and emotional. Sang Tae’s appreciation towards art was so endearing and self-soothing. When he sees a mural, the world is more energetic and warm for him and I love the emphasize on that aspect.

This drama also has perfectly engaging OSTs. The OSTs blurred the lines among the various genres in this show; romance, comedy, suspense, and a bit of horror. The only thing that was not as engaging to me is the mystery subplot, it was predictable, too long and anticlimactic. Other than that, as mentioned, everything was beautiful and worth-watching!

Find me on Instagram: @kdramajudge
edited Mar, 2024

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pedestre, tranne gli effetti speciali

fortunatamente è molto breve perché se fosse durato di più non credo sarei riuscita a finirlo. la storia è talmente trita e ritrita che sembra un omogeneizzato, tra l'altro ci lascia in sospeso in attesa di una seconda stagione che a questo punto spero non facciano mai. i cosiddetti colpi di scena sono qualcosa di penoso e non mi stupirei se in futuro ci venissero a raccontare che in realtà il fiore è la ragazza. gli attori sono pedestri, al punto che mi domando se siano effettivamente degli attori professionisti o gente presa dalla strada o dalle accademie al loro primo lavoro. inoltre gli attori non sono neanche particolarmente carini per cui neanche da questo punto di vista ci si salva. tra tutti quanti hanno una sola faccia: monolitica. l'espressione dei sentimenti, questa sconosciuta. assolutamente bocciato e sconsigliato. l'unica cosa che si salva sono gli effetti speciali, abbastanza carini per il genere e per il tipo di lavoro. aggiungiamoci che gran parte delle scene sono buie perché comunque stiamo parlando di un mondo di vampiri e quindi si presume che stiano in stanze buie candele e quant'altro insomma tutta l'ambientazione è abbastanza penosa e di cattivo gusto. terribile.

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Not impressed

Like others I didn’t know it was a remake. I started watching it because of Ahn Hyo Seop and the fact that it was a time travel story.
I have very mixed feelings about this drama though.
On the plus side: good acting, good cinematography, nice ensemble, 12 episodes were more than enough. Thank god it wasn’t 16.
On the minus side: the plot is so complicated and twisted ! I thought it was a bit too much and the time travelling music drove me insane.
I still watched the 12 episodes trying to imagine how the two leads will eventually be reunited. I didn’t see the end coming as I thought Nam Si Hon would have used the Walkman to travel.
Still… it was a bit of a Meh! For me.

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Summer Strike (2022) - it’s been quite long since I watched a “slice of life” drama and I enjoyed it. This drama reminds me of High School Love On, but this time on a mature note. I love the characters especially the supporting ones because I don’t know most of them or watched them once maybe on other dramas. It felt so realistic seeing them. I think this drama felt like a reminder to me as a person that I am enough. I cried alongside the main character Yeo Reum whom I really admire while I am watching. The characters in the drama are all so kind that it made me believe in humanity in general. It stays true to the drama’s title as well which I really like. My type of drama. Must Watch.

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Alchemy of Souls 2: Light & Shadow (2022) – I was so behind watching this drama because I was not really attracted to it. After watching the first 2 episodes, I stopped and just pick the remaining episodes if I remember it, usually 1 episode only as much as possible. I can’t seem to continue watching it, I don’t know why, maybe because season 1 is so good. I believe the season 2 is necessary for the questions to be answered but that I was hoping that they should have added the episodes in the first season. I think I just finish this one to have a completed drama and to settle some remaining questions to be answered.

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Unlock My Boss (2022) – I don’t have high expectations in this drama because I thought its comedy technology related drama but I was so wrong, it’s a really good watch and I really like the family parts in the drama. I like the flow and pacing especially the first episodes. The characters are likeable overall for me and the acting is fine though the veteran actors are really exceptional compared to the leads which are much younger. I watched this for over a week with one episode per day, and I'm satisfied. I also like that the romance part is not highlighted as much. I will recommend this one.

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When a remake does what the original couldn’t

The Korean remake was much better than the Thai original, at least in my opinion. While there are many differences between the plots, I found this one much more interesting and enjoyable to watch. The original dragged on forever, there were too many couples and no logical continuous story. Korean remake of the series had a much better structure and story development, it also only focused on the main two couples which gave the two relationships time to develop. I also found the two couples in this drama much more interesting.

I think the visuals and the aesthetics are very nice. I really enjoyed the locations as well. I liked the change from engineering students to something a bit more artistic, I think it fit the whole overall vibe of the drama better. I do believe it has a lot to do with the cultural differences between the two countries, but I don’t know enough about that to actually say anything. I still think it was a smart move.

I think the pacing was not the best in certain parts, and scene cuts and changes were not the best at times. But I didn’t find that too bothersome.

Kim Ji Oh & Jung Lee Won: I absolutely loved them! I might be in the minority, but I actually really liked their bickering. I find it cute and funny, it’s not obnoxious or feeling awkward. Kim Ji Oh was obviously the first to realize he is enamored with the other boy. Jung Lee Won was just as in love but was living in denial. I mean, who would want to admit that their sibling was right about something? No one. Jung Lee Won’s reactions whenever something happened that was similar to what his sister wrote were everything! I think the two actors had great chemistry. I loved seeing the two on screen together, either being cute and adorable or bickering and annoying each other.

Ko Yoo Kyeom & Woo Sun Woo: I found the two cute. It was very obvious that Ko Yoo Kyeom was struggling with his feelings. He wasn’t sure how to act around Woo Sun Woo, but he knew he wanted him close. Ko Yoo Kyeom remembered a lot of little details about him. And don’t get me started on him wanting him for his project. Woo Sun Woo didn’t seem to struggle that much, but he still felt very guilty about possibly taking his friend’s boyfriend. I liked the slow progress between the two of them. The chemistry between the two actors was really good too. The longing glances and soft looks. How sweet!

I liked the side characters too. We didn’t really see that much of them, but what we did, fit well within the whole plot. Woo Sun Woo’s relationship with his sister was so adorable! I was really enjoying their interactions. Very typical siblings stuff, I assure you. The friend group was fun too, even the acting teacher!

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Chamber play without any sense

Maybe I'm too old and experienced to much to understand the meaning behind this film.

It's somehow far-fetched to pack so many questions of fate into this short vacation with a childhood friend (hand on heart, who remembers their friend from elementary school so much?!?) in New York.
A what if and what could have been play, that somehow doesn't make sense.
If the two of them had had something together, it would have been more realistic - but so???
Well, we can watch good actors and admire a little bit of New York in beautiful pictures. That also has something of its own. But I don't understand the hype surrounding this film.

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Love To Hate You (2023) – I like the drama even though there are a lot of opposing opinions surrounding this korean drama. My first 2023 korean drama that I finished this year. This korean drama is worth the watch, it was fun. The female lead is my favorite character and seeing this type of woman as the female lead is quite unusual but for me it gives additional spark on the drama. The male lead is an okay male lead, I think he did well. The flow is good as well, I like the transitions and the ending is fine with me. I would recommend this drama as a start-up this 2023.

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The Glory Part 2 (2023) - I really slept late just for me to finish to drama to not see any spoilers on the internet particulary on social medias. As soon as it came out I watched this one immediately. The thrill definitely lowered down in this drama compared to the first season/part, still I like it. The emotions and the acting skills are superb. Special mention would be Kang Hyeon-Nam ahjumma, the right hand of Dong-Eun, there is a particular scene that I was really in awe of her acting, she was really good. Second character that I really am in awe is Dong-Eun’s mother, I hated her character so much, like a different kind of hatred which means that her acting is really good. All the characters are really great in acting their respective characters. I am satisfied with the ending though I was confused with the part of Yoo Jeong and his revenge to his father. I think it would be nice if there is a seperate drama for that.

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