One of my favorite dramas and not just because of Lee Jong-seok
This is probably one of my favorite dramas of all-time.Okay, so I am a person who will stop wactching a drama even if I really like the actors. So keep that in mind.
The story line of this drama was really beautiful and I like drama's that take place in a legal/police industry so this was right up my ally with that. The plot that followed the main leads was interesting because there was an overall plot that didn't just focus on the main relationship. That is something that keeps a drama more interesting than just seeing a couple get together.
I will say that the dreams become a less important role throughout the drama which was okay but I felt like that was something very stressed in the synopses I read before watching it. Granted, it does have a lot to do with the story line, but the dreams themselves become less prominent.
I really liked Lee Jong-seok's character's development throughout the storyline especially in the end. This dram was able to pull emotions out of me in the end (if you've watched the show you probably know what scene I am talking about. The main lead had finally been able to connect parts of the story and discovered things about other characters but then is got so sad (sorry fro being vague, trying to not put a spoiler)
The ending is pretty happy if not a little too good but it made me happy none-the-less hehe.
I hope that you give it a chance!
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This review may contain spoilers
Personal Favorite! Lost count of the number of times I have already rewatched this.
Jung Jae Chan is so damn adorable and Nam Hong Ju is more so. They make a lovely couple and are such a treat to look at. I just love the idiotic things Jae Chan does, the casting directors did such a wonderful job with all the characters, especially Lee Jong Suk . He brings life to characters that are a little weird. Bae Suzy looks so damn phenomenal with her short hair, I know, right now, I'm focused on the visuals but dammit they all look fabulous.Coming to the story, I love it. I mostly skip the scenes with the flashbacks, because there are a some that were not needed. The creators should have tightened that part of the story. The rest was amazing. This is one of the dramas that I return to when I want to feel good and have a few laughs.
Did anyone notice the lottery numbers on the TV when they were investigating? I so wish Jae Chan would have turned around at the time, I just wanted to see his expression.
The best part about this drama is that the embarrassing moments that would in other dramas give us second hand embarrassment just make me laugh and appreciate the eccentricity of the characters. Each and every character in the show is also well written, be it a dramatic scene or a comedic one. The only dark spot is the death that I know of now but didn't see coming when I first watched the show.
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The story revolves around three major characters who can see future in their dreams. A writer a prosecutor and a policeman... At first thing went really well but then their dreams started clashes to each other and they tried really hard to avoid horrible happening as per their perceptions... But other than our wisdom there is more powerful thing out there and that is fate/destiny. The things that are written in your destiny how can you change or erase those happenings and that's how the story played with our minds...
If we talk about acting all the cast did really superb job... Suzy was amazing and first time I felt she is getting mature in her acting... Suzy and LjS chemistry graph break all the bars... If they are really dating like the news stated then yes that spark is clearly shown between them... Sometimes foolish. Sometimes wise LJS characters gave you smile and made you cry simultaneously... I believe his name is enough to judge the drama as he is brand now...
Cinematography and landscape are worth mentioned... Flower, moon, trees and snow all the romantic elements enhance the power of love and nothing is over board like typical kdramas where love looks do fake...
If you planning to watch it go for it... You won't be disappointed...
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This review may contain spoilers
I really liked the idea of the show, and the first few episodes were interesting enough to keep many hooked. However, the remaining episodes were mostly predictable and boring. The standout actors for me are Jung Hae In and Lee Sang Yeob, who I think played their respective characters very well. The entire drama I haven't shed a single tear until the after court scene between Jung Hae In and his senior in the final episode. Unfortunately, I don't really dig Lee Jong Suk's acting at all and Suzy's performance was also just average for me. Also, I think there is a lack of chemistry between the leads and I just couldn't feel the love & romance.
However, the drama did provide some very good OST and I'm a sucker for dramas with good OST. High marks there!
Overall, the drama feels boring and lackluster for me. For me, I strictly believed that one should watch the entire drama without fast forwarding to get the full emotion and experience. However, I just couldn't stand it and found myself fast forwarding. I'm sure I am the small minority that feels this way, seeing how high the rating of this drama is.
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a must watch!
Started my kdrama journey with this one (and my lee jong suk obsession).. i‘ve watched it 5 times in total and did not regret it for a second. the plot itself is so good.. loved every single aspect of it and the romance 😍the plot twists as well, i was sitting there like „huh?“. I love legal stuff in dramas, so the whole prosecution thingy was really enjoyable and interesting to me. The characters viewers had to hate, I did. A lot. this series has me in a chokehold every time i‘ve watched it!Was this review helpful to you?
Not memorable
I vividly remember watching this drama when it was ongoing but I can’t recall any significant moment. It was not memorable at all which is pretty sad considering how cool the plot sounds. It shouldn’t have been this boring. The acting was good and the cast did not lack when it came to tense moments, but it simply was not captivating enough for me to deem it good, which is probably why a lot of people don’t like it. There’s not much of a love triangle here as one might expect, it was more of a they’re all friends (kinda) and the two male characters liked her but she obviously chooses the main.Was this review helpful to you?
Such an amazing legal fantasy drama
LIKEHow Kyung Han always supported Woo Tak
The moment when Woo Tak's secret was revealed - that scene omg so painful but damn good as he shocked everyone
When Jae Chan had "X" on his head - that moment I was like omg Lee Jong Suk so cool
DISLIKE
Annoying Lee Yu Beom
MUSIC - personal fav
When Night Falls - Eddy Kim
REWATCH VALUE
Will probably re-watch someday
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ACTING/CAST: TBH, I hesitated watching this after I knew Suzy was acting opposite Lee Jong Suk and honestly no matter how I loved LJS I hated Suzy... but I folded and decided to watch this, and I am glad I did! their chemistry was amazing, the story was brought to life because of them not to mention I love Jung Hae In too (I first saw him from Blood, but I did't realize until later it was him, hahaha) but the cast was amazing and I could say that Suzy's acting did improve a little bit from when I saw her from Dream High and Gu Family Book and the kissing scene was soo good too! as well as the funny scenes were epic! hahaha
MUSIC: the BGM were fantastic, I love Henry's It's you and Eddy Kim's When NIght falls, aside from that I greatly appreciate Suzy's voice honestly I never loved her voice before but boy I love the song I love you Boy from her!!!
REWATCH VALUE: I would def watch this agian!!!
OVERALL: Rated as 10/10 because this show deserves it.
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I liked the mix of comedic and serious moments in each episode and the music definitely contributed to the atmosphere. There was one time that I thought the song choice was odd but most of the time it was good and helped add to the scene. I really like how the dreams relate and connect the past with the present, and how they bring the characters together. I do feel like the dreams were a bit of a too-convenient plot device at some points though, and in one of the later episodes I felt like someone's dream kinda killed the suspense for the next episode. The pacing was fairly good and the events in each episode kept me yearning for the next.
There are some questions that I would've liked to see explained to wrap up the story nicely. Like how did Hongjoo (Suzy) start having these dreams? Overall, I would definitely recommend this drama. Although there were some weak points, I thoroughly enjoyed the show.
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Relatively new to Kdramas - music often problematic
I'm relatively new to Kdramas, watching on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and now Rakuten Viki. My playlist usually tracks the actors - almost anything with Gong Hyo-jin, Kim Mi-kyung, Lee Bong-ryun, Lee Jae-wook, Lee Jong-suk, Park Eun-bin, Park Shin-hye, Rowoon, So Ji-sub - and a whole host of "character" actors who make a program worthwhile even if the story is weak and predictable. The 16-part series, however, is problematic as the streaming services were constructed for binge watching, and it's hard to binge watch something that 16 hours long, or worse 20 (although I did make it through a couple of Chinese series that were even longer - but at a more sedate pace): it's so disruptive to sleep and work-life balance. The Kdrama story arc is built to be seductive - to get the viewer back for the next installment when it originally airs biweekly, but that is what makes it harder to stop if one is binge watching. I love finding bits and pieces in various dramas where writers sympathize with viewer and production frustrations with product placement (I finally caved and tried Kopiko when I saw it for sale) and the cliffhangers inserted to prolong the series (one character chastises her mother's expectations: No, they aren't going to kiss yet - this is the end of an episode and they want to you come back and watch next week!), the obsession with "first love" (in one of Gong Hyo-jin's movies). The extended series have not always handled music well - they tend to stick to the same couple of songs - theme songs for the protagonists, for example - which get played over and over ad nauseum! I have come, however, to love and recognize some KPop hits and rap - 내가 제일 잘 나가 especially from Kim Mi-kyung's dance in "Healer" and Song Ji Eun's 눈부신 날 - through the programs, in addition to the more immediate recognition of global pop and rock hits.Apologies for the wandering preamble! I just had to stop watching to proclaim my love for the use of a classic!
FIVE STARS for the techno Carmen in episode 13 of While You Were Sleeping as Ko Sung-hee and Lee Bong-ryun's characters embody femme fatales for a television report on the day in the life of prosecutors!!!!
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Better off Asleep
I went into this show with high hopes—it’s from the creators of Pinocchio, so I expected the same magic. But, let’s just say it didn't even meet half of my expectations.
First off, the female lead (don’t even remember her name),I was kind of hoping for someone who’d hit me with that Park Shin Hye-level charm, whom I missed dearly. This was my first time seeing this actress, she’s good, I don’t think she’ll make it to my favorites. The chemistry with the male lead was so-so too.
And the narration? Oh, the excessive, endless narration. Each episode is loaded with monologues and POVs from male lead, female lead, side characters, probably even the neighbor’s cat. trying to explain every little thing. Imagine having a thrilling crime drama pause every five minutes to give a detailed commentary on everyone’s psychology. I’m not here for a lecture—I’m here for the drama!
The mom character had me laughing until she went off the rails after finding out about the leads’ shared past. She decides to hide a ring that the male lead gave to the female lead. Like, okay? Was this supposed to change anything? Because I’m pretty sure he could just buy another ring.
Then there's the whole future-vision power fiasco. These characters can literally foresee life-or-death situations, yet they repeatedly walk right into them. If I saw a vision of myself getting hurt in a certain place, I’d be making plans far away from there. But they seem determined to test fate at every turn. It’s like they have a superpower but refuse to read the manual.
Oh, and randomly, a side character suddenly becomes fully color-blind. Talk about bizarre! Add to that some uninspired wardrobe choices.
Overall this was the type of drama which will force you to revisit your life choices.
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Not bad, but problematic
It has some very good songs, and are used very well, but there are only a few, there could be much more, they aren't so good that I feel like they're enough - some shows repeat the same great music and it works.The FL and ML arent a great romantic couple, they dont feel like they have a strong connection in that way, they just feel like good friends who share something special who care about each other and look out for each other. I feel like both of their acting is off in this too, I can't work out who the ML is trying to be, his character is a little all over the place, and I don't believe whatever the FL is trying to sell, as an actor in this role she feels very low to middle range and generic.
The 2ML overshadows the ML, he's a much stronger character, and he's much more likeable. Overall, the supporting cast are much more interesting than the main cast.
It loses impact in a lot of scenes because we could easily predict them or the characters know entirely what is coming already, so there are no nice or nasty surprises for anyone. EVERYONE knows too much, and that's one of the shows biggest mistakes if you ask me.
The show is too repetitive as well, just how many times do we have to watch the same thing again and again. The show keeps going in circles.. The case.. ok... bad.. all is fine. Repeat... The case.. ok.. bad... all is fine..... Repeat... We just keep watching alternatives of the same show again and again, only things get worse as time goes on, but we know what's going to happen and everything is predictable. Is this how it continues on until episode 16 (last episode)?
I'll stick it out for a bit but I don't know if I can make it until the end. Too many people know too many things, and the lack of a great relationship anywhere, or good strong well-developed (or likeable) characters, is making it all boring a lot of the time now.
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I've now finished it and I'm glad I stuck with it. I don't know what was going on making this show, the last five episodes are very good so I don't know why things were so bad (comparitively) prior to those episodes. Everything was fixed in those last episodes, the only thing that could have been stronger was the main relationship, but even that was a lot better than it had been.
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