had my hopes up but ...ugh
Thank goodness this is over....I only stuck this out because ofNani, Ohm and Phuwin.
The story could've been better and there are parts that were unnecessary like
the whole deal with Mink and her husband. If they had to have a story with the Nani's
character sibling it could've been done better. I found myself rolling my eyes and hitting
mute whenever the Mink character was on screen and her husband as well. Was not a fan of
the Tam character from start to finish. The character of Mac could've been written better because
I just found him annoying. I think the show would've been good maybe if it had
a writer with some imagination. Overall this show really wasn't a show about a group of college kids that are middle children in their families. That seemed to have been lost after the first ep. šUnfortunately this is not a show that I'd rewatch even if its got Nani, Ohm and Phuwin in it.
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Great Title But Nothing Else
I really, really wanted to like this series. With every fiber of my being, I was hoping it would come through at the end with something to make me like it; but it just did not. This manifests more like an āafternoon school specialā or a Hallmark movie. Seemingly sweet, cute, and feels adorable and you think has a point, but it really does not. It is all so superficial. It started out much like a light romantic BL with catchy music to draw you in, assuming this will be cheery, light-hearted, and charming. Unfortunately, this series is self-absorbed, unromantic, and honestly, irritating.If you want to read my full review, pleas go to BLBliss.com.
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Maybe I'm jaded?
For me, this was one of the worst shows ever. One of those dramas that at the end I'm mad at, because I'll never get the time I wasted back. Perhaps I might have felt differently if I had watched it when it was first released, and I was new to K-dramas. However, after having seen dramas done very well, this was hard for me to watch. I have to cut it a little slack because it is old - the production value was seriously lacking, and I think there have been developments in film value, etc.I thought this drama was extremely slow and drawn out. The overused "misunderstanding" trope went on entirely too long. Romance was lacking, seriously. And can someone please slap whoever was in charge of the costuming? The worst.
I'll give my usual disclaimer, since I appear to seriously be in the minority. These opinions are just mine and you might enjoy it, but you will really have to get past the fact that it hasn't aged well.
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A Classic that has left an indelible mark on the genre.
I am very late to the Goong party . Goong is far from being my gateway drama like it is for others , in fact I come in watching Goong with more than 50 dramas under my belt and it has been A WHILE , since one has kindled the warmth and love within me as Goong has. It's not just claiming a spot in my top rankings but is actively dethroning other contenders. A word of advice: savor it with top-notch subtitles, a point I'll delve into later.Now , lets get into the review.
Story- Goong, undeniably, crafts a compelling narrative. I go beyond calling it good; it's exceptionally well-woven. Rich in elements and diversity, it fearlessly ventures into risky territories, setting a benchmark for dramaland. As a seasoned drama aficionado, spotting nods to the Goong playbook in other dramas was also an added delight.
The story navigates light plot points and dramatic turns .The drama's turns can be so dramatic that it might lead to frustration, and I see why others even dropped . The story, at first glance is a bit hampered by a continual repetition of conflicts but the characters explain why because it really is a loop of an evil fate being displayed and our younger protagonists need to rise to the occasion of defeating the generational trauma . These are 19 years olds forced to play a role that is nothing of their choosing or hearts desires . The messy road becomes coherent when one realizes the extreme weight placed on the shoulders of these youngsters forced into roles against their will.
Another point on the story - many things happen off screen and are inferred by the characters on screen in a highly nuanced dialogue that if you are not paying full attention or don't have good subs- you will miss it and call the drama illogical and wonder "how did we get here? Why are we still here???" but the intricacy is intentional. Goong, with all its pomp, is ironically subtle and understated, drawing from Joseon-era conventions. Recognizing these nuances in hindsight enhances the viewing experience, turning seemingly ordinary moments into beautiful revelations.
( i.e- some "first" realisations shown on screen are not happening for the first time and perhaps some "first" moments are not actually happening for the first time too. A lot is inferred but the viewer is sneakily given easter eggs to see this.)
As for the characters - they are wonderfully developed, capturing the realism of their young age. Immature inclinations, stubbornness, warmth, and empathy are seamlessly woven into their personalities, a commendable feat for the writers. The adults truly were dolls trapped in the palace and truly did not know any better and the inference of that makes their actions understandable.
Now for the acting - Its crazy that this is the debut of Ju Ji Hoon and Yoon Eun Hye .They really owned and bodied their roles especially Yoon Eun Hye.She is such a breeze to watch and the unrefined edges of her acting added to the charm of Chaekyung wonderfully . She did great justice to her role . As for Ju Ji Hoon- very good and his portrayal is the gold standard for the cold , mean male lead with a lot bubbling under the surface. The chemistry between the pair was very easy , not forced and quite pleasant . Dare I say - it was their ease that helped the sad conflicts be less burdensome. The supporting cast exceptionally excels, leaving no room for complaints.
Music/ Costumes- ahhh CHEFS KISS. One of the best OSTs in dramaland , one of the best insertions of it too that emotionally heightened scenes . Perhaps Love is so amazing and crazy that all this was released almost 20 years ago . The costume choices, though campy, contribute to the drama's charm.
Rewatch - A definite yes. This drama brought me so much happiness and truly crept into my heart . I really went in with low expectations but was beautifully rewarded .It will be fun trying to pin point when Shin fell in love , what really happened off screen and look at the beautiful quotes they all say with the benefit of hindsight . Plus ,there are some iconic scenes that are worthy of a hundred rewatches.
Observations- While the length is justified given the character development and moral exploration, 24 episodes might be excessive. Trimming it down to 20 could have improved the pacing, but it doesn't detract significantly from the overall score. For that it misses getting a full 10 marks from me though its a 10 in my heart .
Overall- as evident , I really recommend . Goong has that THING that makes K Dramas especially special .It is so sweet, and quietly understated and has more than meets the eye. Ideal for those who relish slow-burn romances, appreciate moral dilemmas, and enjoy the dynamics of push-and-pull coupled with character growth.
I also encourage viewers interested in the historical legacy of K-Dramas to dive into Goong. It serves as a dramatic screen playbook from which subsequent works, including those of Hong Sisters and Kim Eun Sook and others, seem to have drawn inspiration. Avid K-Drama enthusiasts will likely find these connections intriguing and enriching.
It is a classic that has left an indelible mark on the genre.
If you have read this far - thank you so much .
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To My Star Season 2: Our Untold Stories
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This review may contain spoilers
Started were mature then turn into same triangle drama
i was interested when i watched first Episode so i continue but then comes the 5th episode and it become same drama with all otherwe until end will not find the reason this woman seem obsessed with a mute dumb man he don't even look that handsome to be obsessed over him. he isn't Hyun bin
why would SFL be in love with a man who doesn't even save her life and left her to die, normally people hate that person but in KDRAMA world even ML left SFL to die she still shows how obsessed she is with that heartless selfish shit,
i loved 4 episodes of this show to with i am giving 6.5 rating and dropping this show,
after watching ep 5 there was no need of SFL in this and it could have been a healing drama of 8 episodes
but since they have to make it longer so it can earn more advertisement money they introduce a SFL who will be so cunning still pitiful because this NICE jerk left her to die.
people pretending to be nice and kind are worst then those who act indifferent
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"ź·øė¬ėź¹... ė ģ¢ źµ¬ķ“ģ£¼ģø."
There have been fewer dramas about solo K-pop singers with a truly moving and outstanding screenplay. Until now! This drama shows how the performers not only have to compete with each other but fight their own fears and regrets as well.šøThe wide scale of an ocean with myriad stranded islands and of Seoul seething with individuals aspiring to become someone is the ultimate metaphor for the show about breaking free to pursue your passion. The theme combination of domestic violence/not being allowed to dream and performing arts makes it even more impactful and relatable, as for me. Abusers don't deserve to be remembered, passionate artists do.
šøIt is definitely a terrible exaggeration to imagine 15 to 10 years for Mok Ha to stay in great physical and vocal shape on the deserted island. It's so much more effective to demonstrate how fast the world - specifically, the K-entertainment industry - changes if the period of Mok Ha's isolation lasted 7 or even 5 years. In addition, it would be great if the story included Mok Ha's attempts to preserve her voice, practice guitar chords on some bamboo stick and composing songs with the sounds she could imitate with improvised tools. As we all know, it is art and creation that helps you cope with difficulties and heal your traumas.
Said that, Castaway Diva is still the most wholesome and inspiring story that takes its place in my heart forever. Thank you, amazing actors and the crew! Park Eun Bin's saturi sounds so cute, and the young actors did an incredible job!ā”
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This review may contain spoilers
Nothing really happen but still enjoyable
what i find in this drama is there is no point of revenge at all.1st couple were sexless business couple , so what if husband had a mistress and a child its not like she really liked him or he betrayed there love or something, i mean don't know how she was fine living lonely that man just had sex outside because his wife doesn't want to..............SO WHY REVENEGE ? just because FL is sexless she want her husband to practice celibacy ?
2nd wife need to sent her husband to hospital for treatment since we can understand he is sick has anger issues caused by death of there son, that man is sick and needed treatment not revenge
3rd Ajuma needed social justice for her son and daughter she doesn't have a husband problem so she doesn't fit in with those 2 above
i wanted more of Student life and crush that was forming between those two.. but they wasted all time on 3 woman and a minor hanging out and they they think people are weird for rumors ?
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Quite Enjoyable
To each their own, but I personally really enjoyed the drama. I agree with majority that the trajectory of the plot changed in the second half but I also think it wasn't "out of the blue". It changed bc they changed. They weren't kids anymore and were considered adults in the second half. Making their own decisions and facing the consequences of those decisions. We also got to see what happened in ML's past and FL's fighting certain "boulders"(iykyk) to find her own path for her own life.Without spoiling anything, I would say the first half is about two kids with troubled homes/past who find comfort and support in each other. Second half, young adults who reconnect and develop deep feelings for each other while supporting each other's dreams.
It isn't as romantic and fluffy as WIFTY, but the leads still have amazing chemistry. I think it was nicely developed too. And there are definitely some kicking my feet in the air moments too.
Definitely watch the special ep to get some more answers.
I think if you go into this drama thinking it will be as romantic and cute as WIFTY, you'll be greatly disappointed. ZYR's characters in both dramas are drastically different, but tbh.. I might like Shen Juan a little more ?
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It's generic tbh
From the summary I thought I would be watching something different but sadly that was not the case.For the first half the FL was unbearable. Her characterization, her acting or her dialogues, everything was just off. The actress is a veteran actress so I don't know what happened there. ML carried the first half. Story had premise though so that kept me hooked.
For the second half, FL actually becomes a little bit likeable but then ML's characterization and story starts suffering. The majority of episodes revolve around nothing and there is no main story development. For me, story is the backbone of a drama. I could bear with bad acting, absent osts or lacking production but when the story or characterization starts suffering, its like the whole drama comes crumbling down. The second half, sadly, has a lot of filler content, plot inconsistencies and illogical decisions but the relationship development between ML and FL is good.
Thankfully, conclusion itself is done really well. Everything wraps up smoothly into a proper ending.
I think a lot of problems of this drama could've been solved with a shorter length. Right around the middle of the series, I think they ran out of ideas of what to do and they had to stretch the irrelevant sections to match the episode count.
Overall, it was not a bad watch. It had its moments but it did bore me quite a few times too. As I said before its generic, but definitely watchable.
7/10
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I cried so hard when I finished watching this drama
Honestly, I don't want this drama to only have 40 episodes. The storyline and acting of the cast are too good so I want this drama to be extended to 100 episodes (ā„ļ¹ā„)I got carried away when I saw the relationship between Yin Zheng (6th Young Master) and Li Wei. Their love story is truly beautiful.
Really, I was amazed by Yin Zheng's persistence in trying to win Li Wei's heart. He didn't force her, he didn't act harshly, he actually loved Li Wei in a gentle way. He made Li Wei fall in love without the slightest coercion. Yin Zheng's feelings were very sincere, he helped Li Wei a lot to open the way when she encountered difficulties. He understands Li Wei's point of view, he's willing to learn from Li Wei. He's the epitome of a green flag husband. You won't find any patriarchal traits in Yin Zheng. He's a modern man who is intelligent, open-minded, and firm in his principles. Thank you to the writer and director for making Yin Zheng's character this good even though he's a man who lived in ancient times.
Meanwhile, Li Wei is a modern woman who upholds women's empowerment in the era she lived at that time. She loves Yin Zheng, but doesn't want to depend on Yin Zheng for her life. She was an independent woman, open-minded, forward-thinking beyond the times, and even gave encouragement to women who at that time were very constrained by patriarchal culture. That's why I admire Li Wei and Yin Zheng's relationship. They were a perfect couple, they both had the goal of reforming ancient culture that was detrimental to society, especially women whose position was considered weak at that time. Li Wei believes that women also have their own strengths, and Yin Zheng as an open-minded man, also agrees with what Li Wei believes.
High appreciation for Bai Jingting and Tian Xiwei. They're truly amazing actors, no wonder the casting team chose them to play Yin Zheng and Li Wei. For real, the chemistry between them is crazy. Sometimes I wonder.. are they really in love and not acting? haha :D
Talking about the storyline, I am happy because this drama takes an unusual storyline. There was no love rivalry or enmity among the palace ladies. They are all friends, support each other and give each other strength.
The character of the Great Master is also not made to be evil. He's a father who is also the leader of 9 regions. His burden is so heavy, having 11 children, so it's "understandable" why he's unfair to some of his children, BUT on the one hand he remains open to his children's thoughts. He didn't refuse when Yin Zheng came and gave him a lot of advice about state affairs even though previously he had not placed much hope in Yin Zheng because Yin Zheng was a sickly child.
The wives of the Great Master aren't evil either. The writer and director didn't create too many evil characters in this drama. Even if there is a problem faced by the main character, the problem tends to be resolved quickly without excessive dramatization.
I highly recommend 'New Life Begins' to you guys. I promise, you won't regret. The story is too beautiful, I even want to erase my memories of this drama and watch it from the beginning again so I can repeat the feeling when watching this drama ą²„āæą²„
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Started off pretty good but the ending fell short
Iāll keep this review short for now but I might come back and write a full fledged review later on.Overall, this was a warm-hearted drama that honestly started out pretty good. The drama went between light-hearted and funny to melodramatic and serious. Even though I wasnāt a huge fan of the switching, I think it was done decently well. I loved Cheong-Ah and I loved seeing her story play out.
But as for what I disliked, it felt like the last two episodes were too rushed and too many questions were left unanswered. The pacing could have been done much better, leaving more room for us to see Yi Chan and Cheong Ahās love story develop more if they didnāt spend so much time on that love triangle earlier. I wouldāve also loved to see the new 2023 be more fleshed out as well.
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EP 1-24 BAD, EP 25-40 BETTER
Xian Xia genre drama isn't making sense. Including this one here regardless who's in it, ep 1-24 is so disappointing, nothing's good. A typical Xian Xia drama is script all imaginary ridiculous synopsis, overwhelm with digital works; flashing fake power, flying here and there, trees/flowers/heavenly animals backdrop are cheap fake illustration, colorful background screams phony, fighting scene is a big joke. Not to mention everything looks so perfect, not a ruffle of hair or smear of make up, dangling hair piece are still in place beautifully, light flowing gown. I guess that's what immortal living with perfection in the cloud but wait .....immortals doing bad things are exist too, perfect appearance but morality/action of immortals are still corrupt (lost the common sense of the plots). The director use digital generic special effects, same replica from other (same genre) dramas. The digital landscape is almost the same in every other Xian Xia genre dramas; colorful landscape & waterfall, birds flying over between the mountains, hanging rocks in the air, obvious plastic green leaves/flowers, rainbow clouds.LuSi is overacting it; enlarging her pupils, child annoying voice, heavy make up, dangling hair accessories, innocent child expression, not good - appear superficial act. While An Yu & Yun Rui bounce their hair so much and their acting is in the minus, the peacock girl is a kill-joy & Yuan Shuang is boring. When LuSi said she won't do another school drama in the future (after Hidden Love) I hope she won't do another fantasy Xian Xia drama ever again. I hope she won't act this stupid in future dramas ever again, her beauty and talent gets her far enough without employing to act adolescence. The whole team is a disaster; Scrip writer, director, editor, music director awful (change swapping background music on the middle scenes) and choral symphony as background music (rather using their own OST)? bad CGI work, lack of creative ideas.
Ep 25 onward, ZLS starts to act better but have stiff neck and the story start to come into place, besides that production sadly hasn't change a bit (still lousy). If the production team would have shorten A Yin & Gu Jin and all combine vile efforts peacock clan/devil only to 10 episodes but more focus in developing characters of Feng Yin & Yuan Qi, this drama might have a better feedback. Highlight the reason on why and how Yuan Qi did for A Yin earlier instead of revealing it on ep 35 & 38 we might have better sense of the plots. Ep 1-24 is bad (I rate it 4) & ep 25-40 is better (I rate it 7). As the Devil King intends to try his tribulation to the mortal world, his coming down bring all chaos that need salvation. He shouldn't be ascendant gracing our life (just a thought...lol) but I hope Wang AnYu & Zhao LuSi will collaborate another drama in modern setting someday. I am more in love with their chemistry in the promotional photo shots/interview.
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Very Entertaining Drama
Very entertaining & youthful version of Xianxia drama - that's the highlight of The Last Immortal. Xianxia drama had lost its popularity among younger audience and The Last Immortal will bring back GenZ Audience back to this genre.The drama has a youthful appeal & even CGI visual effects also adds to the overall young audience vibe.
Loved some of the funny interpretation of Xianxia they have included .
Very good drama and it has a big re-watch value . That's another plus point which I saw in The Last Immortal. Giving it 10/10 since this drama is Xianxia 2023 .
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