Encounter

was beautiful but could have done more in those 16 hours then this

1 ) I enjoy this drama until few last episodes i skipped them because i really don't understand there breakup at all
2) What with MLs brother this guy is there for nothing i thought they could have developed a 3rd couple with him and MLs bestie but they did nothing for whole 16 hour , they were so focus on Main story that they ruin everything else, side character are there to be used in story but they all look separate from main story even FL's ex-husband was like after 10+ episode he want FL back and was doing so little to get her back like he wasn't serious about that at all or he doesn't value her at all then he try to sack her off from her position which somehow will make her fall for him ? what weird logic was that.

Main story was most focus thing of the Drama without giving any side character any importance
i like main story had watched 2-3 time but after watching it more then once,
i really feel they wasted 3rd couple.....

I don't get the logic of alimony in this drama ,
how she was given a position of CEO as alimony in which she can be kicked out anytime they want ?
should she had received Company stocks, or the ownership of hotel as alimony.

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Video Prose Poetry

Anything revealed in the first two episodes is not considered a spoiler here.

This is a reverse Cinderella story with a rich older woman running a major hotel chain who while in Cuba meets up with a much younger man from a humble background. She’s robbed and left in desperate straits while out and about in Havana. The young man saves her and they spend the day together not knowing each other’s backgrounds. Their meeting occurs outside the normal social class context in Korea that would have dictated their initial interactions, and so a seed is planted for a relationship as each triggers something in the other.

Upon returning to Korea it turns out he is a new recruit in her hotel chain.

Back in Korea we learn more background. As a rich younger woman she was forced into an arranged marriage to further her mother’s and her mother-in-law’s political ambitions. The couple divorce after two years (husband caused) and two years after that the encounter occurs in Cuba. The ex mother-in-law and her mother scheme ruthlessly to get the original couple back together to further the evolving political ambitions of both.

The pacing in the first several episodes works and the story proceeds at a sedate but acceptable pace, but somewhere about half way through there’s a drag in pacing. Certain conflicts are signaled but don’t happen until much later and then off screen. Towards the last few episodes some interesting plot twists occur and the pacing picks up but the damage has been done for some viewers.

This slowdown midway is a deliberate choice by the writer who I suspect wants to dwell on the inner conflicts of the CEO and the young man, and the impact their relationship would have on those around them. They are after all not in Cuba in isolation, but back in the larger cultural context and that fact has consequences.

The rich CEO character is a good woman struggling to break out of her class strait jacket, her gilded cage. Even her closest confidants constrain her choices. She can’t open the car window for fresh air to avoid catching a cold. The young man brings out her inner true self trying to win release from the external demands demanding conformity and obedience. The CEO is just holding on barely fending off the overtures of her mother, ex mother-in-law, and ex husband who also makes it clear he wants to get back together. Meeting the young man was a breath of fresh air but back in Korea there are too many complications to pursue things further.

The young man is basically as saintly as they come and his family is average but happy and well meaning. The CEO notices the contrast with her family and also knows that continuing a relationship with him is going to risk the happiness of his family as the collision between his peaceful happy if humble existence and her cruel family complications will have consequences for him and his entire family.

The CEO’s mother and especially the ex mother-in-law are some of the most evil ‘stepmothers’ you’ll see in a Cinderella story.

Song’s acting as the CEO may seem controlled or smothered, but that’s the character she’s playing, and later as her character goes through liberation there are several scenes in which her acting talent is on full display.

Many of the scenes are picture poetry as there is heavy reliance on images and symbols. Note the background art often in particular shots for each character especially the two leads. Often enough I was able to enjoy the lingering on particular images or scene set ups.

The script and directing are well done throughout. I thoroughly enjoyed the first several episodes so when the pacing lagged a bit in the middle there was no doubt I would continue, and I was glad I did. The reveals in the last half and the plot twists rescue the production from the slow pacing in the middle.

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The most underrated kdrama to this day -- A rivew after the 6th watch

Due to the male lead being the best friend of the ex husband of the female lead in real life, this show was not accepted well in Korea. For international fans that are obssesed with bad shows like true beauty, they don't get the maturity of this masterpiece.

This drama is a wild ride, a ride of joy, healing and growth. A drama that shows you what a healthy love is and how to "love". It feels like a novel, like a poetry, like the warmth of the spring sun after a long european winter. The writer of this drama intentionally made the script feel like some sort of novel, every conversation they exchange feels straight out of a book. How they comfort each other, how they love each other, how they express their feelings.

Starting with cuba, the first two episodes make you so invested in this dreamy romance tale.

Acting is 10/10. I couldn't think of other actors that could express these lines, these emotions and the age gap so perfectly. FL is the mature Song Hye Kyo that have been through a lot. Very calm, mature and elegant. Park Bo Gum (ML) is the eptiome of youth. A good student like personality, the responsible older brother, the nerdy book lover.

This drama OSTs have been on repeat since 2020 for me.

I truly recommend people that love calm mature romance like "One Spring Night" and "Pretty Noona who buys me food" to watch this drama.

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YOU NEED THIS REVIEW TO WATCH THIS DRAMA!!

FIRSTLY, the description given about this drama in the synopsis is doing the drama BAD. The drama has more to it than just that! Let me start by saying this is not gonna be one of the dramas you watch and regret wasting your time. I started this drama mainly because I'm into Noona Romances. This drama brings out a lot of emotions both happy and sad ones, and also gave me a new insight in life as well. The drama is correctly paced and the most realistic drama I've ever come across in my watching of K-drama's. Many a times when I watch dramas based on life I often wonder "how can this be possible?" or "there's no way this can happen in real life!" even though they aren't fiction or fantasy. This drama left no place for doubts like that and it potrays a very mature and strong relationship between the leads.

STORY: The overall story is quite wonderful! but kdramas always have a plot twist which you never expect. I personally think this twist wasn't really necessary as the drama by itself was going on really well!

ACTING: I couldn't have asked for a better casting than this, both the actor's brought out the life in their characters exceptionally well. For all of you saying the casting is a wrong decision, I would say y'all are blind! SHK and PBG's expressions as well as their acting couldn't have been better!

OST: The OST was a blessing to the ears! Right from when they were in Cuba to the ending . The music coordinated very well with the scenes! and enhanced the ambiance of the situation as well.

The only time when I was disappointed was when episode 13 ended. After that it was kinda unexpected and when everything came back to track the happiness was very short lived. I wasn't able to experience the joy of the drama I felt all along. It would have been better if there was 1 more episode added to it after things got back on track.
But overall this drama is ONE OF THE BEST dramas I'VE seen!
I WOULD STRONGLY RECCOMNED IT!! :)

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I enjoyed watching this show very much, that said it's not as light as I thought it would be, based on the reviews I've read on this site. In fact I think the melodrama tag is completely justified, yes there were no major tragedies, even so there was a melodramatic vibe throughout the entire drama. (melodramatic music, many ppl being perpetually unhappy etc, cinematography)
Song Hye-kyo was really amazing, maybe this was her best acting performance to date. Usually in kdramas I really hate interactions with foreigners, because both the foreign actors (seriously where do they get those ppl?) & the Korean actors speaking English all embarrass themselves so much, that I find it hard to watch, here however the Cuban scenes were surprisingly good. The foreigners spoke English naturally with a normal-ish Spanish accent & our main characters were also speaking like how I would expect a normal Korean to speak English in real life, it was actually believable. The secretary lady & that fat driver were also awesome!

I could go on and on about the positives, but the other reviewers already mentioned all the important points, so I'll just list what I did not like:
1, The ML looked like a female version of Matt Damon. I'm completely used to effeminate looking male Hallyu stars, but this was on another level. (too heavy on the lipstick YO!)
2, There is an insane amount of twisted logic, like that retarded clause ..
3, I didn't like any of the 3 mothers
4, The end of episode 13 was unnecessary & for me that alone made episodes 14 & 15 meaningless fillers.
5, There is that side character that only has one role, which is to recommend that W drink to his coworkers (and to us obviously).
6, The second ML hasn't had a single scene without having teary eyes, I hated his character even without this but ..
7, The ending could've been longer & more satisfying. (still it was ok)

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I dropped this after 8 episodes, before resuming my watch months later.
I thought it became rather stale at that time, but the development picked up quite a bit in the second half.

There's nothing groundbreaking in the story and the writing is pretty average.
What saved this drama was the directing, which elevated the writing above what it was.
Chemistry was very good, which was unexpected for me since I couldn't see it by their visuals alone.
They make quite lovely onscreen couple, SHK and PBG.

I love love love the OSTs. Made way into my playlist which I kept on repeating for quite a while after I finished watching this drama.
Still listen to them sometimes now.

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I think the best way to review Encounter is to talk about episode one. Absolutely phenomenal opening episode (in fact, the show is pretty amazing until episode 13-ish). The best I've ever really seen from Korean Dramas. The rich cinematography is right on display with the beautiful scenery of Cuba and South Korea. The great introduction for our main leads, allowing us to learn their motivations and dreams outside of the environment we'll typically see them in. Soo Hyun and Jin Hyuk's introduction and how two opposite people are able to connect so beautifully in a neutral zone and develop intense feelings for each other. Despite age, class, circumstances being worlds apart. It was a strong beginning and Encounter is able to mix usual K-Drama tropes, such as disapproving rich in-laws, themes on social class and the typical break up at the end only for the couple to get together, with good storytelling, great down to earth acting and scintillating chemistry. And not just sexual chemistry either because it's not that. It's certain chemistry that makes you feel like they make each other happy as human beings. It comes off so well and makes the show worth watching without factoring other plots and characters. Encounter is far from one-note. Don't get me wrong. There is plenty to love in this series. And while the finishing episodes aren't quite as strong, There is a good chunk of quality.

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This drama is a poem ??

If this drama is a poem, here's how I would love to write it:
The sun is about to set. You’ve been holding on for too long.
It’s the right time to end it all, you think.
You’ll be gone as soon as the sunset, you believe.
But as you close your eyes to surrender your pain and yourself to nothingness, he's there sitting next to you.
When you think you about to fall to the deep of the blue sea, he places your head to his shoulder.
That’s how you realize, the moon will keep you safe when it gets dark.
You could have some rest, forget about the world a little, but when you’re ready you could begin again.
The pain is there, but he and the night had helped you to heal, to become stronger, to walk with confidence since that encounter.

---

(Pardon my English skill, at least that's how I would describe this drama)

This drama shares the same feeling with painting or poetry. The narration doesn’t explain but visualizes the situation. It won’t be hard for you to put yourself in the main characters’ shoes because it’s all written in all the details you find in the drama: the setting, color grading, OST and even the words that have been carefully chosen for each scene.

I used to avoid melodrama. I haven't’ watched any melodrama before beside Something In The Rain and Be Melodramatic but I really love watching this one. This drama is so beautiful. Even though at some point I feel depressed, mostly it’s a beautiful thing that makes me cry throughout this drama. The main character of this drama makes me realize things I might have taken for granted and teach me how to be grateful. I feel like growing together with the female lead. That’s how strong the male lead character is. He is not that common "manly" type of man yet he makes you feel like being cheered up and protected. Overall, the mood of this drama is that time between sunset and sunrise spent with a hot cup of tea. I would love to rewatch again.

I know this review is so subjective. I’m just trying to be honest with my feeling because this drama feels so personal to me. You should definitely give it a shot, especially when you feel tired and discouraged.

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Dreamy romance without the toxicity of classic kdramas

plot
though the series is not plot driven , we can say that it follows a hotel CEO that has been isolated her whole life and forced to shrink to fit into a certain image, to not upset her father's political career. so she had married the man they dictated and did the job that was expected of her. but she got out. and that's before the series start.

romance
the drama starts when a sweet man appears in her life and shares with her experiences she didn't have until now. even sharing a meal with her colleages wwas something foreign to her, but with his love and unwavering support she manages to keep control over the hotel she fought for and enjoy the simlicity of love

overall
sweet, meaningful, full of green flags

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i don't understand her ex husband .... if he loved her and never cheated on her , even if he wanted to free her why didn't he at least try to change things first , make her happy , protect her from his mother , like did he think i'm gonna act like i cheated and then get a divorce , then fall in love ?!! i think divorce should've been the last solution and he is stupid AF and doesn't think , what a ridiculous thing to do , and her mother , what a bit** , i understood the chairwoman but her mother is fu*ked up , and her father's character was so weak like he was pushed around by every body , his wife , the chairwoman , how is he a politician

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