Reviews

A passionate tale

Chicago Typewriter has so much going for it. By far, the best quality is that none of the characters (that matter) are annoying and our three leads can seriously ACT. Plus, the story is intriguing — dual timeline shows can feel choppy, but somehow the past and present were weaved together smoothly.

This is a story of passion: passion for one's country, passionate love for the ages, and passionate youth burning brightly. It strikes deep chords of nostalgia and showcases unbridled joy in the midst of chaos. It's hopeful and full of life. Above all, the friendship was worth witnessing. It's true that this show may be a bit frustrating in the first six episodes, but it really does pick up steam. I'm glad I stuck with it.

There were a few minor lowlights. There were a few too many flashbacks and repeat scenes — or perhaps it felt that way since I binged the show instead of watching it week-to-week. I felt that the stalker's subplot was left hanging. I wish we got some hope for Seol's friend, who just wanted to be loved. Then again, all the other characters were less compelling and less fleshed out (thinking of people like: the Shaman, Han Se Ju's dad, his agent, etc.). The story was so complex that I'm glad the show focused on its leads above all else.

I laughed out loud and I cried. What more could you want from a show, really?

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Just watch it - electrifying chemistry and mesmerizing moments

This will be my shortest review: just watch this. The leads are incredible. The plot is logical and is extremely fun. All the characters are supportive and fascinating, allowing this drama to be a light-hearted watch, but at the same time, you become invested in the leads themselves.

My one area of complaint is that it focuses a tad too much on gaming or aerospace engineering. The first 14~ eps go very into detail of a mobile game (perhaps even more than some "gaming dramas") and just as you're getting used to the gaming aspect, it essentially gets completely dropped in the second half! If it was kept more consistent, would've been better. The latter half is really dominated by aerospace engineering, with lots of exposition - the exposition doesn't bring too much value to the story but really slows it down and is pretty inconsequential. The weakest part of the drama by far is the final 2 episodes. It wraps up relatively nicely/happily/realistically but the final two episodes essentially have the leads be apart for 90% of the scenes. It took away the best part of the drama so the final scenes felt underwhelming to be the conclusion of such a great drama. There were so many iconic, passionate, heart-warming moments but for me, the LAST scene didn't do it. Small complaint, but just know that it's there. If the drama was shortened to ~28episodes (fixed pacing regarding gaming/engineering and a better final two episodes), it would have been even more perfect.

Still - just watch it.

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Short sighted in so many ways.

This started out okay .. nothing too spectacular.
*sigh*

The FL was annoying for the most part.

I'm not quite sure how quickly their relationship managed to escalate to the point of her living with him, it was so rushed and I just didn't understand it.

She basically invites herself into this man's life after she finds out he is her favorite composer.

There's one scene that really bothered me in the absurdity of it.

He - a blind man - is carrying her down a fire escape... come on man, I mean really.

And this is while the FL supposedly had measles (yet had NO telling symptoms other than a cough and fever for like a day).

We're then bombarded with vaccine propaganda for an episode or two.

I despised the FL mother, wretched character and almost unbelievable.

She came all the way there to move her daughter back home b/c she found out she was dating a blind guy.

Then her constant bickering and complaining is what led to the dad's collapse, not the daughter.

How in the heckle and jeckle did the ML recover from blindness that we're first told is not recoverable?

This was a huge thing at first .. then we learn he can see a small distance in front of his face - once again we're told he can never recover.

Did the writers just forget all about the level of blindness he had?

His attitude was a big turn off .. he clearly felt sorry for himself and made it seem like he grew up in an orphanage when he only stayed there for a year.

The FL had serious mental issues we were not made aware of until the end.

They could have trimmed a lot of the fat out and threw that in there instead.

Maybe then things would've made a bit more sense .. or maybe not

Not sure where this was supposed to go, but I'm guessing it fell grossly short of it's final destination.

The music was nothing spectacular .. there was some piano music that I think was supposed to give off a nostalgic or romantic vibe, but creepy is all I can think of when I hear it.

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Underdeveloped plot, but the cast tried really hard.

This show could have been amazing, but it was limited by time constraints & a busy plot. It simply tried to do far too much, which led to it accomplishing very little. Time that should have been spent developing the pairing's relationship was squandered on a useless side plot about the guy in the friend group's unrequited crush instead & his interference in the fledgling relationship between the romantic leads wasted still more valuable time.

The saving grace that made this show bearable was the cast. They tried so hard & their talent is so obvious. Jung Shin Hye is so beautiful & Moonbin is just so endearing.

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More Than Just a Game

Squid Game was something I was looking forward to post Devil Game. I enjoy thrillers with an edge that offer social commentary and it doesn't disappoint. I think that is why it resonates so much with American audiences. The games: convened by bored rich people at the expense of the desperate ordinary people trying to get by, some for noble reasons, all at the end of their rope; are supposedly a great leveler, offering a way out that is an equal opportunity. Inequity is a hot button topic everywhere, but here income inequality has grown so grea tly that we have situations where some people die for want of medical care while others are killing for amusement. This could be happening right now for all we know.

They quickly find out that it's more than money on the line, and yet such is their desperation that they continue forward, despite knowing that every game is whittling down the players, some of whom have formed alliances with and become bonded to in that way that only survivors of trauma can.

We learn about the characters of the individuals playing the games in bits and pieces by the choices they make, flashes of backstory and when they occasionally share some information with someone else. You have an incomplete picture for some people the entire time, while you can see some clearly from the beginning. Others you discover facets of their character only in extremis.

This makes for GRIPPING viewing. I was so grateful Netflix put up all episodes at once so I was able to binge watch it over 2 days. Mostly one day, and the finale the next morning. I just couldn't stop once I got started, it's that compelling.

Some shows you have to force yourself to finish, others you have wait for weekly releases, some you even savor every slowly released episode knowing that it brings you closer to the end and you just don't want that to happen. (Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha is like that.) But this one, just plan to let yourself watch as many episodes back to back as you can.

I've seen some people commenting on an extremely brief scene that takes place in a bathroom during a sexual interlude. Both people are clothed as far as the camera can see, the bulk of the content in the sequence is dialogue, and it just seems ridiculous to me to object to such a minor sexual setting in a series that has about 8 -9 straight hours of extreme violence. But heads up, please watch that part and don't skip it, it's important to the story. Apparently some people were so offended they skipped it. Perhaps they were underage or something.

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More enjoyable than the Korean version

9/26/2021

This review will have some personal thoughts in my comparison of the Korean version vs Japanese version. I have not watched the Chinese or Thai version. Overall, I enjoy this version more than the original, "She was Pretty". Because it's only 10 episodes, the pacing is good and there isn't any filler.

I definitely enjoy the Japanese ML, FL and 2ML more than the Korean version. They are all cute and adorable, and very easy to root for. I cannot stand the how loud Huang Jung Eum was as the Korean FL. Unfortunately, I've watched a few of her dramas and there's a lot of screaming. Koshiba Fuka/Sato Ai, on the other hand, is a lot more mellow comparatively speaking. She is still inexperienced and clumsy, but she comes off as more adorable. Sosuke's character is also a lot more tolerable as the male lead than the Korean version. He is rude in the beginning, but we see his character development a lot sooner, thus, you don't hate him as much. The main romance develops better without many fillers. You can see how ML used to just hate FL, then tolerates her, to really enjoy her company. I might like another 0.5-1.0 episode to see how he slowly falls in love. 2ML in the Korean version gives everyone second-lead syndrome, and I bet many feel the same way for Akaso Eiji/Higuchi here as well. Overall, I liked Higuchi's character more as he's a little less over-the-top, but just as sweet and caring. As for Risa, I think I like the two characters about the same in both versions.

The Japanese version focuses more on the romance plot. There isn't a whole lot about the inner workings of the editorial department. It's not until the last few episodes did the focus really switch to the demise of The Most magazine. If you like mostly romance, this version might be better. On the other hand, because the Korean version is longer, there are storylines about the supporting cast/editorial staff, and the magazine business. I actually enjoy learning more about the editorial process.

Even though it's hard to pretend that our FL is ugly, it's also a great message that our FL changes not because of a man, but for her own sake. It's also nice to know that she wants to achieve her own dreams, and not just to follow her man, no matter how much she loves him.

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Overrated, just watch Liar Game. Here's my rant...

YeaH... this was pretty overrated. The production, cinematography was great but... The "VIPs"... omg their dialogue was soO cringe. These are some fake a$$ rich ppl if I've ever seen any. LoL.

The motivation behind why the game came to be? Yeah not very convincing...

Also, was pretty disappointed that there were soO many predictable moments. Especially with the old man doing a "Jigsaw".

And what happened to the daughter? Was the Gi Hoon soO depressed that he just gave up on her even though she was the damn reason he went back to the game?!

It seems that they set up the beginnings for season 2... But with the foundation being season 1, I seriously can't imagine watching.

Omg one more thing, when Gi Hoon was having a serious heart-to-heart dialogue with Ali... Wtf was that sh!t? LoL. Conversation literally was:

Gi Hoon: "So why are you here?"
Ali: "Money"
Ali:"What about you?"
Gi Hoon: "Money"

Well damn.

I sure hope so, cause this ain't no slumber partY.
D:

Sorry this was much less a review and more of a rant. But I can't help it. It just— it could have been soO good. It could have beenN something. But it wasn't. And that to me, is maddeninG.

Please abandon ship and don't make a season 2 lol.

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This series told me "No one will ever love you" in 10 languages.

My theory of love:
THIRD: "If the love is real, it can withstand anything."
KHAI: "My six-word love story: You changed my life. Thank you!"
TWO: "One night I looked up and saw 1000 stars...hello Phupha are you there?!"
BONE: "Paan broke my heart now I'm into guys and hitting on Tine's brother."

"Third,
I've watched as many romantic films as I could. To find out what love is. Instead of finding the answer, I found you in every one of them. Every scene that the lead characters express their love is the same as what you've done for me over the past three years that we've been friends. Now I know love is not beautiful flowers, not luxurious locations, but the sincerity you've given me. If I am to confess my love to you, there's no better way than the sincere way you did for me. If you still think what I've done here is not love, I really don't know what love is to you. I've engraved my name and yours in it. For me, you're not a movie, you're real. Would you be my boyfriend?"

And that's how I died

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Not a fan of Filipino dramas but.....

I don't like Filipino dramas, but this one peaked my interest because I came across the theme song in an Instagram video and I couldn't get it out of my head. Now I'm glad I followed the song. This series was like a combination of Mean Girls, Boys Over Flowers and Another Cinderella Story. Basically a melting pot of all the teen, rom coms you can think of. And it was GOOD. Max was the character that I wanted for the BOF drama. I really liked her. She was a tough cookie that fought back. The chemistry between her and Deib was great. The actors really went all out for this one, although the one that played Lorde was SO annoying. The story was great even though it used every cliches and tropes in the book. The side characters and the couples were very likable too. Throw in your bitchy villains, a sprinkle of great comedy and some heartwarming moments and you got yourself a very well played out teenaged rom com. I liked this one. I would recommend for a lazy weekend binge.

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Most say it's bad, but I loved it. It didn't become one of my favs because it didn't have a 100% closed ending. Shippei right as always. And I didn't think Jung was crazy and psychopath. I do think he had a certain problem because he got irritated easily and for anything, and that even though it was a small thing, he felt the need to get revenge and want to pay back. However, in certain situations, I fully agree with Jung to want revenge because I don't see a problem in getting revenge, as long as it's not for insignificant things (as he did many times) but for something that had an absurd impact on his life. (I am scorpio girl. Revenge is a characteristic of my sign). I defend him because I'm someone who loves revenge stories and not because he's a man, standard, handsome, as many say.
About the couple's ending: it was an open but not vague ending. That's because as Jung finally read Seol's email, it means he was finally confident and ready to love her. And we know and we can clearly see that even after 3 years, love for each other still existed. After all, it was a very intense love. Don't say he was crazy, psycho, just because you wanted her with In-ho. It wasn't Jung's fault that he became that way. It was the events since his childhood that made him that way. And thanks to Seol and all the things that happened from their relationship, they served to make Jung realize that he had something wrong and so go after improving for himself and especially for her.
I absolutely loved In-ho too, but he didn't and would never have the possibility of Seol choosing him because Jung was always undoubted for her.
Another secondary couple calling attention as if they were the protagonists too. Bo-ra and Eun-taek were too perfect. A pure, light and funny relationship.
In-ha was just so insufferable. I have nothing to say about her except that she is a freak and that her expressions, speeches and actions as if she were a child, irritated me absurdly. I hated her from start to finish.

I loved this drama and all the lessons, conflicts and revenge. But mostly I loved the two couples and Baek In-ho.

And by the way, a lot reminded me of True Beauty. And True Beauty is one of my favs ever. This also had an influence on me.

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Disappointed

What to say about this ending? They romanticized a toxic and abusive relationship. They romanticized that a woman is indeed a repair shop for men. I feel shame and pity for Na-bi because in that conversation where they return their relationship, it is evident how emotionally dependent she is on him. She knew what he was like, what he put her through, and yet she threw herself into his arms again. I am disappointed! Fortunately the secondary couples - Sol and Jiwan, Bit-Na and Kyuhyun, Min Young and Kyung Jun - saved that story.
They could have made Na-bi discover female empowerment. They could have made her realize with Jae-eon that no one deserves to go through an abusive relationship. What about Jae-eon saying he fell in love with her at first sight? This was never a crush because if he really had fallen in love with her, he would have had intentions of getting into a serious relationship with her from the start. And not just after losing her. What starts wrong will never work. Except in Nevertheless, history made people think everything that happened was normal.

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Unravels 70 percent in

All in all enjoyable, but there were definitely some things I didn't like about it. It's only 6 episodes, but the episodes are relatively long, so that's not what bothered me.

My problem with this drama lies with the two main characters. Valen's lack of proper communication drives me nuts, but I think that's a personal thing. It makes sense with his backstory, which we pretty much have to figure out for ourselves. I feel for him, but even after it's clear--to him at least--that he really likes Kaitoon, he has a weird way of showing it most of the time and isn't doing himself any favors if he wants to win Kaitoon over. (Doing something really sweet for the guy you like? Tell him it was your sister's idea. Want to take him someplace special? Don't let him know what's going on even after you get there--Valen's lack of communication reminds me of my husband, and that's not a good thing.)
As for Kaitoon, he's mostly likeable. More at first than later. He can be forthright to the point of rudeness, and at first I thought maybe this was the kick in the butt Valen needed, but later on it seemed too brutal. (Did he really have to point out to Valen that some of the bracelets were done incorrectly after Valen helped him out with them?) I'm assuming Kaitoon has so much on his mind with school, his job, and his bracelet business that this is the reason he forgets something important. Twice. But nothing is actually SAID about that being the reason. I'm not even sure if he likes Valen, to be honest.
As for the secondary characters, Nont is great, but he's wasted in his role forming a weak love triangle with Kaitoon and Valen (because who knows if Kaitoon likes Nont), but we don't know enough about him to feel anything but sorry for him in the last little bit of the show when we finally get an idea he has feelings for Nont.
King and Peat's story started out interesting but then became weak when it became apparent King is no longer feeling it. Enter a young guy who suddenly becomes a model for King's art and more confusion ensues.
While it was nice to see Jeff Satur again (Marwin from Ingredients), his role is useless in the story. I don't know if he's supposed to be interested in Kaitoon or what, and isn't that what Nont is for? Maybe in season 2 he'll get with the male model, or with Peat if King winds up dumping him. Then there's the odd guy who keeps flirting with Valen's sister, Pang. This is just unnecessary extra stuff that could have been used for other things, like plot.
The story jumps around too much. I'm sure the point of having Valen act in a play is so that Kaitoon can help him through it, but what about the EXTREMELY long wait before he delivers his last line? So weird and unnecessary. It wasted moments that could have been used for, let's say, character development.
And the swim club? Purpose? We never see anyone swimming. I thought maybe the club would be a way to get Kaitoon and Valen closer but nope.
So, in my opinion, not a total waste of time, but not worth a rewatch. The season 2 trailer of a Valen/Kaitoon love scene shows a moment of chemistry. Which gives me hope, I guess.

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A Time travel drama without plot holes? YES THIS IS THE ONE

Woww What a beautifull ride this was. I must admit that I started this drama 7 months ago, but the first episode didn't catch my attention so I put it on hold till now. I decided to give it a chance because, I heard the first episode is a pilot (plus this drama as 9.0 rating on mydramalist) and THANK GOD I DID. From episode 2 till the end this drama as FANTASTIC, WHen you are watching time travel dramas you often find plot holes, but I can't find one with this one. The story is confusing a little bi but not to the point you can't understand what is going on, everything make sense at the end.

The leads:
- Both the male lead and female lead made I great pair. Their chemistry is really great, for a hight school drama the romance was very well executed.
- Second lead was loyal till the end no unnecessary drama for no reason, I like how both friends deal about liking the "same girl".
- The ending was sad, but realistic, they didn't change the future to make the viewers happy and risk to make plot holes at the same time.
. The fact that they took time to make a special scene for the viewers is so sweet.

Overall: 9.5 (because the first of 1 episode).
Best taiwanese drama ever and belong in my TOP10 DRAMAS NOW

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She was pretty before and after ..

I really do not get their concept of unattractive in the Asian drama world.

From this version on down to the others.

The only thing the FL needed from the start was a flat iron and some decent clothes.

This version was more short and to the point than the other two.

I don't care for the story in any version, but this one was my favorite and only because of the male lead.

I'd like to see him and the FL paired in another romantic drama, they had pretty good chemistry.

She did a great job being nervous around him in close proximity.

The second male was a cutie pie and like the previous versions, the best friend is not one of my favorite characters.

I may re watch it if I have nothing else to pass the time with, otherwise, once was more than enough.

I found myself skipping through most of the episodes toward the end.

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