The documentary style story was good ,acting of the main cast and supporting cast was good
And the music takes the scenes to another level
I would totally love to watch it again
I dont know what happened to the documentary of ji ung and his mother or maybe i may have missed it,
Choi ung has everything when its money related but still something is missing and yeon su has problems since her childhood
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A wonderful feel good drama!!!!
OUR BELOVED SUMMER ....Gives a wonderful experience throughout the journey.. This drama have a unique way of telling story with interconnecting both past and the present situation. All the characters in the drama has given a good performance.The ost of this drama are heavenly which make me keep listening to it. Each episodes make us more anticipating to watch it.I eagerly waited each week to watch it.It was my first drama to watch it while it was ongoing. The script has given justice to each characters.
Overall it gives a wonderful experience and I recommend you to watch it.....
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My beloved drama
I have seen both of the leads in their previous movie called 'The Witch' , so I expected the chemistry to be lit. As I expected they never failed me. The chemistry Among them was 101%. They were perfect for each other's happiness and sorrows. The one to rely on.Such a well written drama with perfect ending. I enjoyed the drama to the fullest. IG now it's a goodbye. 8 weeks was so much of fun and happiness and tears with them. I hope they win more awards for this drama as it's one of the best in my eyes. Kudos to the director, writer, actors, actresses and to the production team.
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Does everyone still loves the same person after 10 years?!
Maybe one day my desire to write this review will increase...STORY – the story is not very interesting. Even the characters are not interesting to me. The couple is cute, but that is it. The documentary about the top and the worst student is a great idea and it was funny. I cannot understand why those two would film again, after they broke up in such painful way…
ACTING/CAST – the acting is ok. I do not understand the role of some characters and the importance in this drama.
Choi Woong is an artist that draws buildings, works for more than 12 hours per day and yet, he says that he is lazy. His artistic vein is not well explore…
His sweetheart broke up 5 years without tell him the reason and lives in the shadow of happiness… He has great parents and a story behind that…
Kook Yeon Soo (Choi ex-girlfriend) is a hardworking woman that lives without any purpose, except, maybe, taking care of her grandmother. She lacks social skills.
Kim Ji Woong is Choi’s best friend, but also in love (even after 10!!!!!!! Years) with Choi’s ex-girlfriend. He is lonely and without family, enduring the pain of loving Yeon Soo and having an absent mother.
NJ – the most interesting character for me and the only character I was rooting. Do not understand why she should be interested in a man that does not pay any attention to her, but…
Koo Eun Ho (Choi’s manager) and Lee Sol Yi (Yeon Soo’s best friend) are cute.
MUSIC – I find one or 2 themes very good and well used in the drama.
REWATCH VALUE – maybe some parts. Just to understand how Koreans endure 10 years loving someone, even when they do not see or even communicate with each other for more than 5 years.
OVERALL – cute story, a nice warm ending but… I think it is too long for the lack of depth in the story and the characters.
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...the emotions they displayed just with their eyes were enough to make me curl up & cry
PLOT :Choi Ung & Yeon-su were high school sweethearts who suddenly broke up 5 years ago and have not been in contact since then but when a documentary which they did about the daily lives of 1st ranked high school student Yeon- su & last ranked student Choi Ung whose personalities completely clash with each other at that time becomes suddenly viral again in the present, the two ex-lovers are re-united again reluctantly and due to some circumstances they are asked to do another documentary about their present lives. As old wounds re-surface again, we get to explore the journey of their past which shaped their present, how they are coping with their adulthood which turned out different what they hoped it to be, their insecurities, their bickering, petty jealousy and revenge and if they are ready to move on from the past, grow up, forgive and maybe give themselves a chance again.
My REVIEW:
The premise of Our Beloved Summer is simple but what it excels at is character development, the chemistry & the art of subtlety. Rather than bombarding us with grand displays of emotions, it slowly nudges our heart and let our heart do the rest of the work because they know we will be able to relate to it and can feel what they are going through rather than trying to make us understand it to feel for them. And this art of not doing too much is risky because it can be hit & miss as many actors can't pull it off, so usually dramas take the other route. But, my God, Choi Woo Shik (Parasite) & Kim Dami (Itaewon Class) were up for it. The emotions they displayed just with their eyes were enough to make me curl up, cry and keep me awake at night, I don't think any other actors could pull off this beautiful imperfect characters and their chemistry was off the charts. The anguish of their heartbreak & yearning for each other yet unable to move on from their past can be seen plainly by us, the viewers within their subtle ticks and features but yet we can see how they hid it from everyone else.
There is no one dimensional antagonist in this series. All the other characters are also normal humans who are also going through their pain and struggle and trying to cope with it, and live their life. We can probably relate to each characters because we can see that all of them are inherently good persons just dealing with their demons like the rest of us. I wish some of them had more character growth but still it was a better representation of the secondary characters than some other kdramas who are just there as a catalyst for the main characters.
The unique documentary styled editing with the combination of showing a same flashback of past from multiple perspective was ingenious, it showed multiple facets of different character’s point of view which has also enriched the viewing experience of this drama. I also loved the minimalistic indie approach by the director as in, they didn’t go in the direction of display of grandeur with a huge iconic scenic backdrop or soundtracks blaring every second when there is an iconic moment, instead they toned it down, let the actors do their part, used silence or slow song to drive the important turning point scenes so that it feels like we are in the moment with them and we are paying our full attention to them.
And if this drama is not already worthy to be a must watch, it hits off the park with the soundtrack. All the songs in the soundtrack are exquisite, they perfectly compliment the scenes they are used in.
I would like to end my very long review with the parting words that I absolutely loved the journey that I went with the characters of this drama, I cried and laughed with them and always rooted for them. This drama is definitely not for everyone but I will miss Yeon-su and Choi Ung a lot and my Mondays and Tuesdays will feel empty without them.
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A warm, fuzzy, feel good drama
When I first saw the plot for this, I had no idea how the story would revolve around the documentary angle. But the previews and stills really got me interested.May I just say that I love both the leads so much? They make a wonderful pairing! Despite their actual age, they can pass off as high schoolers. Character development from teens to working yuppies is portrayed well. Ung is someone I would love to have as a BF. He is totally devoid of ill intentions and has an easy going personality. Yeon Soo is a strong character who, despite the difficulties in life maintains a strong sense of responsibility.
Except for NJ, I loved everything about this drama. The setting, the cinematography, the narratives, dialogue, and the soundtrack.
If you want to watch something light but full of wonderful characters and emotions, this is definitely a MUST watch.
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Top 5 dramas of 2022,regardless of how early in the year it is!
Going to keep this short everything in this drama is amazing,doesn’t feel dragged out,boring or lacking in anyway for me.Gook yeon so is quickly becoming one my favorite female Korean actresses,some people didn’t like her in itaewon class but I loved it, she’s a amazing actor and so likeable,she’s adorable aswell.
Choi woong changed my opinion of him in this drama, I wasn’t really interested in his dramas but now I really like him because of his performance In this!
There was no random twists or breakups between the ML and FL lead which lead to a perfect ending.
Also have to mention the MUSIC in this drama is top tier v’s OST for this is amazing and every bit of music they played along with made me enjoy this drama more for me,
This will be in my top 5 for this year and I know this because it’s been a while since this show finished and I’m still thinking about it ,I loved everything about it!
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This review may contain spoilers
What a masterpiece!
I'm compelled to write this review because I believe everyone should watch this series. However, if you're new to Korean drama, don't start with Our Beloved Summer, there are a lot of high quality KD, but OBS is on a league of its own and it sets the bar high.STORY:
How can a simple story be told in such an exquisite work of art? The writer, Lee Na Eun, had a vision and trusted a rookie director, Kim Yoon Jin, to execute. No details were spared, from the cell phones used in the life stages of the characters, the books borrowed from the library when they were in HS, then as adults, and during the proposal. The place where they broke up and where Ungi said the magic words to Younsoo. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the beautiful cinematography of “Our Beloved Summer”. The series showcased the beauty of each of the four seasons.
ACTING/CAST:
Choi Woo Shik and Kim Da Mi are exceptional actors and their chemistry in OBS is un-matched. We can see why their co-star, Kim Sung Chul, referred to it as a national treasure. Choi Ung and Yeon Soo’s characters are typical of any Korean dramas and so is their story. What set them apart were the actors who played them, give all the awards to Wooshk and Dami now. They weren’t even on my radar prior to OBS, I watched IC but didn’t care for Dami then; and decided to watch Parasite in between OBS episodes.
OST:
The music of “Our Beloved Summer” pulled everything together. The story, the characters, each setting, each scene, were all made more beautiful because of the soundtrack. This is the first OST that I purchased, and I had to pay more for shipping than the actual products – I can’t wait!
REWATCH VALUE:
I rewatched most episodes while waiting for new ones to be released. I’m planning on rewatching the entire series, with less anxiety of how it will end, and more appreciation of its artful storytelling.
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This review may contain spoilers
enemies to lovers to ex lovers to lovers again... made new
this is one of my new favorite dramas.the story:
i absolutely loved both the plot itself and how it was presented. i think it portrays relationships (romantic, platonic, and self) in a more accurate way than some other dramas may. of course, it is still a drama, so some things aren't realistic, but that's part of the suspended disbelief: believing something is true even if it may seem impossible. we saw how being friends with your ex isn't some easy thing to do--it's difficult, especially when feelings are involved and you don't know what feelings they are. we saw how getting over a crush is difficult and how it's hard to control your feelings--but it's not your fault. we saw how mending broken relationships with parents is hard and sometimes you can't forgive. we saw how hard it can be to address your own feelings and experiences of guilt, abandonment, and loneliness/emptiness.
i really liked how the characters were able to narrate their thoughts in a natural way. it added a layer of depth to help understand their motivations. and even though sometimes i was screaming for them to just communicate!!!, i understood their reluctance.
the characters were amazing! i loved how three-dimensional they were and how different aspects of their lives were explored: romance, family, friends, career, and general self-improvement. like a normal person, they have various stories in their lives, and i liked how we got to see a bit into the side characters' lives as well.
there are really only 2 minor things that i didn't like: the use of fate/coincidences and the slightly rushed ending. the fact that ung happened to drop his phone the night yeonsu was talking about her difficulties and the fact that they lived in the same area but never saw each other for 5 years are among the plot points that bothered me a little bit. once again, bringing it back to suspended disbelief. also, there were a few stories that i wish they spent more time wrapping up: choi ung talking to his biological father (maybe just showing the scene?), chae ran and ji ung's relationship, sol-i and eun-ho's relationship, and the wedding scene why didn't we get that :(((( i know it's a lot to put in one episode, but i wish we could've seen it. at least we got a bit of married life <3
acting/cast:
i would like to hug the casting director and give them my warmest thanks for their work. literally everyone was casted so perfectly. i cannot imagine anyone else as yeonsu, ung, ji-ung, NJ, sol-i, eun-ho, chae ran, and everyone else.
wooshik's acting never fails to disappoint. the way his seemingly blank or sad expressions convey a much deeper level of feeling always gets to me. same with dami. you can see her thinking, and then it hits you. the actors all put on such emotional performances (with the exception of our comedic relief, eun-ho and sol-i, of course). i wish they had been given some "real" storylines, not just comedy and a supporting role. i know it's hard to develop so many characters, so i think the story was good with the time frame and those two actors did great with what they had. i hope to see them in future lead roles! i have to give a shout out to my personal favorite, jeon hye won (chae ran). obviously her character was more background here, but i think with a bigger role, i see her acting being amazing and i'd love to see more of her as well.
music:
the soundtrack is really lovely as well. the songs are so good and the way they're inserted into the tv show is just *chef's kiss*. also, it's so stacked! we got BIBI, V, and Sam Kim! plus OST icons 10cm and Janet Suhh!
final thoughts:
i am a sucker for tropes, i'll admit that. but i have standards hehe. and i think OBS took those tropes (enemies to lovers, ex lovers to lovers, etc.) and made them their own. they made it refreshing, lovely, wholesome, better, and all around amazing. these characters felt so real. i feel like i learned more about life, not just romance, watching this drama. and that's why i love it.
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Light and Breezy with an awesome OST
The title 'Our Beloved Summer' promised a breezy show and it served. It is beautiful, funny, hilarious, heartbreaking and adorable at the same time.The leads who are ex lovers in the present day, not only find a way back to each other but also discover themselves in the journey. This ability to mature over years is admirable for the storyline.
The side characters are alright, nothing remarkable but they support the leads well.
The cinematography, production and OST is so beautiful, it really lends a character to the show. It is a good easy watch.
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Beautifully slow and mesmerizing
I am writing this review few months after I watched the show, but it is still fresh in my mind, which is telling.This is one of those shows that either mesmarizes you from start to finish or never quite grips you at all. It's all to do with it's tempo, it has a very calm slow pace not even in script, but in cinematography too, which is not suited for everyone, so I am not surprised about some negative reviews most of which claim that show is boring, quite understandable why actually.
For me this tempo is ideal, and maybe for you it would be too.
Story is not very original, but very believable and relatable to me. Might do with characters age, which is quite close to mine. It's slow, but steady and easy to follow. It keeps you anxious for main characters till the end, few episodes have that sincking feeling to it, when you care A LOT about characters, which I enjoy in my shows.
There are a lot of truly beautiful scenes where BOTH writing, directing and ACTING (!!!) is truly superb.
I am very impressed with Kim Da Mi and Choi Woo Shik, they deliver every emotion very clearly, especially their acting without dialogs, with just eyes and mimic they convey so much, it's crazy.
Dialog at points is deep and emotional, very poignant and witty too.
Directing and cinematography is just chef kiss. You can argue it's infamous Netflix filters, but it works perfectly here.
Soundtrack is amazing, it underlines whole calm and warm vibe of the show.
Give it a chance, if you enjoy slower calmer vibes it could be best kdrama ever for you.
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Happiness
The Series is written in a way that every time somethings gonna happen you will think about it and if you're into it can guess what will happen next but you can also be wrong. I like how they Color Grade the whole thing(Post Prod) it adds flavor to the story as well as the music they used, it really fits well. I also like how the cast portrait the role given to them and I like the Chemistry!! all in all Its Good and there will be a chance in the future that you will Re-watch it again.IF you want something that is not that on a HEAVY side and just want to Warm your heart then I would Recommend this
it will give you something within your heart it's a roller coaster of emotion but it Will Warm your heart
(This is just my opinion!!! and Thanks for reading this!!)
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