Amazingly well done
I saw this show as a suggestion within my Netflix's account, wondered why it was there, but I decided to give it a try. Never in my wildest dreams would I guessed how much a grip this show would eventually have on me. I often found myself wondering what will happen next, and that isn't an often occurrence when I watch shows. From beginning to almost the end this series crash landed on my emotions and took me for an amazing ride.The story...
Was well written to the point of me not being able to guess what was coming next quite a lot, that masterful mystery, kept me watching episode after episode. While it may not have been totally original, it was original enough to make me feel like no aspect of it was repeated in another show. The comedy the action, the suspense, the uncertainty of it all had everyone on the edge of their seats. Wanting and waiting for what is going to happen next. The pacing was also well done, building from a moment of will they wont they, are they falling for each other, or are they just crazy. It was so much fun watching their dance of the sugar plum. The action, the back stories and everything in-between built a series that everyone should watch. The leads dedication to each other's happiness and well being will keep you watching, along with their interactions with the other members of the 5th company. That moment when they were trying to surprise her for her birthday, even I wanted them to still be there. Even the mole is loved in this show.
The characters...
Captain Ri's character was soooo refreshing, to see someone from his background, be so gentle and caring for basically a totally stranger that crash landed on him. While his every move may not have been calculated, it was all for the same goal. Has character was so well built, from his leadership qualities to his family values to his duty. Nothing could have been better with this man. Just take a look as his faithful squad members, that never missed a beat to make sure that he was taken cared of and safe. When you got people that would risk their lives for you, that is when you know that you have been good in life. His chemistry with yoon se and the 5th company members were perfect. You could swear they were all family that grew up and sipped tea together since they were children. He did an excellent job with his role.
Yoon Se was masterfully built to be a strong and independent woman, that still knew how to be a polite and sometimes petty woman. This made her sooo loveable, that you couldn't help but want the best for her. Given what she endured growing up, she's not broken just bent, but still her family were written to be complete rubbish. You'll see.
5th Company members were all the best ride or die friends you could ever ask for and you could tell it wasn't strictly about them being in the military together. Their personal relationships were some of the best bromances ever written. That moment, when Capt. ri shoed up with those shoes to give to guem. I bet you will cry. These blokes were a joy to watch, their chemistry and physical comedy were amazing.
Wow these people had me. THat's just it, they had me for the entire series, they just had me. They did what they want and they just had me. Thank you for this series. I always say blood ain't nothing but blood, family is what you need to check for.
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love
he waters the tomato plant 🍅 😭he waters the tomato plant 🍅 😭
he waters the tomato plant 🍅 😭
he waters the tomato plant 🍅 😭
he waters the tomato plant 🍅 😭
he waters the tomato plant 🍅 😭
he waters the tomato plant 🍅 😭
he waters the tomato plant 🍅 😭
he waters the tomato plant 🍅 😭
he waters the tomato plant 🍅 😭
he waters the tomato plant 🍅 😭
he waters the tomato plant 🍅 😭
he waters the tomato plant 🍅 😭
he waters the tomato plant 🍅 😭
he waters the tomato plant 🍅 😭
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This review may contain spoilers
great, even MORE unrealistic expectations for love and men
Let me preface this by saying I am not a person who rewatches a show in its entirety. I watch movies once, I watch TV shows once, and I do not do rewatches.This show is different. I don't know what they put into this show but it is straight crack and I am an addict.
I have rewatched it a total of five times and each time the show never fails to make me laugh, to make me cry and scream in frustration and smile in happiness. This show is poignant, it's beautiful, it touches the soul and heart and pulls every emotion a person can have forth to the surface where you cannot help but feel them in their entirety. Watching this show feels like I am coming home to a place I never knew existed, being wrapped up in a blanket and comforted by people I never knew who would love me and feeling safe in my corner of the world.
The show is somewhat wacky in its premise; star-crossed lovers across boundaries and cultural divides, death is imminent and the two lovers are reluctant in their relationship - not exactly enemies-to-lovers because they never were enemies despite how they were brought up to believe. North and South, antagonistic towards one another and led to believe they cannot coexist because of how fundamentally different they are from one another. But Se-ri and Jung-hyuk soon realise that there's a thin line between love and hate.
Where to begin, where to end? The show begins as an adventure - get Se-ri home before everyone is found out and subsequently unalived for harbouring a South Korean. Jung-hyuk takes the role of Se-ri's protector and carer because she is extremely out of her depth here but she quickly adapts and learns to the situation at hand because if she doesn't, she'll be discovered and sent to meet her maker. The two clash in the beginning because of their cultural differences: communist vs capitalist, spoilt vs hardworking, but they quickly understand each other.
Se-ri comes across as "spoilt" because of the fact she is so far away from home and is trying to chase after the comforts she's used to because of the fact she's technically in a foreign land and is under immense stress to keep up this charade of being a member of an elite, NK spy team. Jung-hyuk comes across as aloof and stubborn because he's never been in this situation and is trying to remain as pragmatic as possible because he knows the stakes and the consequences if they fail.
But he starts to empathise with Se-ri, begins to realise that he can't exactly separate his empathy from his pragmatism because she's scared and frightened and placing all her trust in him to get her home and it's different to his subordinates relying on him. Se-ri disrupts his life and routine but Jung-hyuk doesn't seem to mind that much and the two learn to learn from each other, to trust and have fun and to laugh and find comfort. With Se-ri growing up with little to no love and a mother who hates her, and Jung-hyuk growing up under a dictatorship and forced to give up his dreams as a result of a dead brother, it's no wonder the two find companionship under one another.
The cast has a wonderful pool of side characters including Jung-hyuk's subordinates (who I affectionately call his ducklings), Jung-hyuk's fiancée, Seo Dan, and Se-ri's old con boyfriend, Seung-jun. Dan's family are even colourful who bring light and laughter to the otherwise serious storyline in the North, and Dan's story doesn't exactly revolve around Jung-hyuk and she begins her own life, with a very unexpectant love interest.
The show portrays the pure love of Se-ri and Jung-hyuk time and time again; you'll find no miscommunication tropes, no lying to save the others life, there is a moment when you think Jung-hyuk is going to go "i don't love you Se-ri it was all a lie" but he backs out almost immediately because he can't bear to keep the act up. There's not a single one dimensional character in this show, they all have different sides to them, different reasons to live and keep on living, they all have a life outside of the main storyline. The show manages to balance the cast and characters expertly, while never really forgetting the main couple in the meantime.
Son Ye-jin and Hyun Bin put their entire Yejinussy and Binussy into their respective roles and you don't know how happy I was when i found out the two actors are dating! Love IS real and these two are living proof of it! They expertly craft Se-ri and Jung-hyuk into real people with their own lives and motivations all the while never forgetting that Se-ri and Jung-hyuk are the main reason they keep on going. The way they are in love is something so beautiful to watch, while painful to know a person could never experience it. It makes me cry every single time to watch them come together and fall apart and then put each other back together again, the way these two soulmates managed to find each other time and time again despite all the impossibilities that should exist but dissolve because of their love and devotion to one another.
I really could go on and on about this show but then I would end up with a novel. This show will never be a regret for me, and it definitely won't be a regret for you if you decide to watch it. The romance, the comedy, the drama, and the politics - the show balances these all so equally with their large cast.
Watching this show makes me want to die alone because if I can't have what they have, then i don't WANT IT
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THIS IS A MASTERPIECE
I know I'm very late to review this drama but "crash landing on you" is perfect in every way. the characters are spectacular and there are no unnecessary ones. the romance feels genuine and authentic (not forced in any way). the acting is superb and there are no cringe-worthy moments. the plot is easy to follow yet intricate. the story is very well thought out without unnecessary plot holes or plot twists. the camera work is also very detailed. when the directors want you to cry, you will cry. when they want you to laugh, you will laugh. when they want you to smile you will smile. overall, this show is one of the most well-written shows I've ever had the pleasure of laying my eyes on. HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE & EVERYONE.Was this review helpful to you?
My Favorite Rom-Com
I don't know why it took me so long to watch this drama. It has been on my "To Watch" list for years and I was always skipping it in favor of something else. I finally sat down to watch it and absolutely loved it--despite some of the plot implausibilities. The best part of this show is the stellar acting and strong chemistry between the main leads. I had watched both leads in previous dramas and was only mildly satisfied with those. Maybe that's why I waited.Both leads bring a lot of heart into this drama. They are completely invested in it and in each other and I think this is what makes it work. We can sense their enthusiasm. It was interesting to see how two people from completely different backgrounds and worlds come together and rub off on each other--so to speak. He learns to loosen up and break the rules, while she learns to put others first. I love character development in dramas and this did not disappoint.
Their trusty sidekicks make the greatest ensemble of comedic talent I have ever seen in one drama. From Ri Jung Hyuk's men to Yoon Se Ri's neighbors, to Dan's mother and uncle, they all did a wonderful job balancing the heavier aspects of the drama with their light-hearted escapades. You couldn't help but love them.
Just watching our MLs slowly gravitate towards one another, as well as the secondary leads, was the best part of this drama without feeling contrived or forced. That slow gravitation is well-executed and earnest. I am also glad that it doesn't give you everything you want. I have to commend the writing team for this. This production is one I will remember fondly.
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This review may contain spoilers
The first half of the drama was captivating. Son Ye Jin proved her versatility in tackling not only dramatic roles, she showed her comedic talent in this drama. What can I say about Hyun Bin; he's drop dead gorgeous eye candy. Together, SHJ and HB had excellent chemistry and were great in their respective roles. The other characters, the gossiping ahjummas, Jung Hyuk's comrades and Seri's assistants, although they were a tad naive, they provided delightful entertainment. I'd like to make special mention of actor Go Kyu Pil as Hong Chang Shik. He is a natural actor and I love watching him. I hope he'll have meatier roles in the future. He could be Korea's answer to Jonah Hill. I did not like the secondary characters portrayed by Seo Ji Hye as Seo Dan and Kim Jung Hyun as Koo Seung Joon nor care about them. The writer attempted to create a love story for these two but it was unconvincing considering these characters were both unlikeable. What I find frustrating in a number of Korean dramas is that, they start at a very high note and then become duds in the end. Unfortunately, I regard CLOY as one of them. It started out brilliantly in the first few episodes then went downhill fast. The repetitiveness ie, the number of failed attempts to send Seri back to the South, the near death situations of both leads, the loss of focus on the story of Jung Hyuk and Seri with unnecessary scenes involving the supporting cast, was a clear indication of a writer that was losing ideas and could not sustain the integrity of the story.
The last two episodes made me want to pull my hair. The cinematography in Switzerland was so beautiful and picturesque and with it as the backdrop for the last two episodes, this drama could have ended on a very high note. Too much melodrama involving the near death of Seri (again?), constant scenes of the ahjummas, comrades, SD and JH were frustrating. The pathetic attempt of changing SD and SJ into these sympathetic characters culminating in SJ's death was poorly executed. SD was obsessed with JH and SJ was a conman who was in love with Seri and for these characters to all of a sudden fall in love with each other was unbelievable. This drama was not about them and removing their characters' presence in the last two episodes would not have change the story.
Since it's an unusual love story, it should have been celebrated. I would have wanted a wedding in Switzerland and maybe an epilogue of JH and Seri walking their baby.
In conclusion, this drama did not inspire me and made me sad.
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Solid Gold Classic
What can I say about Crash Landing on You that hasn’t been said already? For starters this drama belongs to the Premier Division of k drama IMO, in line with Secret Garden, You Who Came From the Stars, Legend of the Blue Sea. Not entirely coincidental these dramas were aided by respectively the same actor, Hyun Bin, and the same screen writer, Park Ji Eun. The question remains: what’s so good about it? I think it is the right mix of story, actors & music.The Story
Crash Landing on You combines many proven genres that capture a worldwide audience from the start: action, romance, comedy, drama, tragedy, business, rags & riches. Moreover it is meticulously written according to the golden rules of screen writing:
1. Use the time of your audience in such a way that they will not feel their time was wasted
2. Give people at least one character to root for
3. Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water
4. Every minute must either reveal more of a character or advance the action
5. Start as close to the end as possible
6. Be a sadist. No matter how sweet your characters, make awful things happen to them to show what they are made of
7. Don’t try to please the whole world, this only weakens your storyline
8. Give your audience as much information as possible in order to stay hooked.
The storytelling is also rock solid: boy meets girl - they get into trouble - things go from bad to worse - there is a closure but at the same time it keeps us from knowing if new developments are good or bad, hoping for a sequel.
The Actors
Even well written stories are made or broken by the cast. In this case the acting of each and everyone was on point. I can’t imagine any other actor playing the lead than Hyun Bin (the stern and sturdy North Korean army officer Ri Jung Hyuk) and Son Ye Jin (the sophisticated South Korean chaebol heiress Yoon Se Ri). Also the supporting cast did a great job, with honorable mentions for Yang Kyung Won (sergeant Pyo Chi Su who speaks North Korean to a T according to North Korean defector Kang Nara) and Bang Eun Jin playing the emotionally scarred mother of Se Ri.
The Music
So, we've got our story and the right actors, but we can check the box of the soundtrack as well. This one leads the Top 10 of most downloaded OST’s at the moment I'm writing this review.
Rewatch
Sometimes I can forget a story as soon as the clue has been reached, but I think I will rewatch this drama. There are many layers in the episodes that deserve a re-run.
Verdict
Overall, if you haven’t seen this already, go watch it, and learn how k drama earned its reputation.
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Great cast and production, but story went stale
Production is incredible, but the story went boring very quickly. I started skipping scenes and eventually dropped it. I don't even remember what episode I started finding it boring. Like the entire leaving North Korea got old early on, and when she's actually gone back to Seoul, it's ridiculous how the story dragged further. I don't find the villains and their scheming nor the romance compelling. This drama should have been a movie now that I think about it. It should have just been 2 hours. Honestly can't see any chemistry with the leads too. They were showing a lot of backstory clips that are clearly impossible, but like props to the production, they were beautifully shot. But not remarkable.Was this review helpful to you?
Putting aside the beautiful scenery, music, great actors the director made such a good job I can't find even a single part to complain I mean the story from the start looked a bit classic but they developed it in a way that it won't look classic or predictable at all. The suspension, sad moment, hilarious moments were put in the right amount nothing has been exaggerated
Obviously I was drooling like a dog every time Hyun Bin was there ha ha ha just kidding anyway his acting skills I think are great I saw some comments somewhere poeple saying he can't make crying scenes etc but believe me that's completely wrong I mean if you watch the last ep there is a scene that he looks like crying but he acts like not...and and the ending they made for the 2nd lead honestly I think that wasn't necessary to put it in that tragic
I fully give my 10/10 it fully deserves
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BS propaganda from Moon Jae-in and North Korean sympathizers
Stupid plot, you are going to get shot and die as soon as you cross the DMZ. This is the same North Korea that randomly bombs South Korean islands, the same North Korea that flat out threatens to bomb South Korea if it does not get enough money.How many times did this god awful show rant about reunification? Most young people in South Korea don't even want to reunify nowadays because those distant relatives are generations ago and they never met them, refugees would collapse SK economy and North Korea is not regarded as a friend.
Besides being propaganda, it has some rich woman that suffers princess sickness and gets her own way, a weirdo captain who defend his area from an untrained woman. Nobody in this show is believable. Do you know why? Because it is propaganda, that is now how north Koreans are, that is how people pretend they are to make you think they are nice and win over our hearts.
Sunshine policy is killing South Korea, Moon Jae-in is a weak leader and this propaganda to try trick people is not wanted.
P.S: I don't care if you liked it, feel free to go waste your savings travelling to North Korea and find out it is nothing like this show.
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From episode 1 to 5 i had a lot of fun laughing non stop and was very enjoyable, then later there was such a turn in events that bored me to death and didn't enjoy watching it anymore.
I have to say that Hyun Bin was superv in this drama but apart from that all the rest were so-so.
For me this drama is a 5, i have watched a lot more interesting and better made dramas.
The music was okay not great but not bad.
The landscapes were beautiful and i could enjoy such views.
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The Golden Standard
What an unexpected treat to the emotions! I laughed, I cried, and swooned a plenty. It was so hard to say goodbye to these wonderful characters and hop off this great rollercoaster ride. The story is filled with much more than just romance, but also murder, mystery, heartache, and healing. It will surely sweep you off your feet and never let you go until the very end. I highly recommend this series to everyone, but be warned! After watching this drama, it'll be hard to find anything quite as enjoyable. The bar has been raised.Was this review helpful to you?
