This review may contain spoilers
Healing
This is exactly the kind of K-Drama I was needing! It 100% gives meaning to "healing drama" genre.My heart was full and touched by the end of it. I cried so much, but I also smiled a lot throughout it. I was very empathetic to the characters' struggles. The female lead put into words so many feelings/thoughts I have. Yet, at the end, she left me thinking.
We might feel like we're not enough or achieving some great dream and we must hustle to make a life, but... Are we really living for ourselves in the process or simply doing it due to expectations of others? There's a scene at the end that was very sobering where the female lead lists simple things in life we might take for granted, such as drinking water, hanging fresh laundry, etc... and she says that "it's enough." We might think we'll never truly be happy, but... happiness is technically contentment. In such moments when you realize you have "enough," you're content. This scene will stick with me long beyond finishing the drama.
All the characters/actors are great. You can't help but connect with them. I loved Siwan in "Run On," but I think I love him even more in this! I also appreciated how he and the female lead have such great chemistry and form such a wholesome relationship. Despite little to no skinship (there's not even a kiss), you never question their feelings for each other. It was nice to see how a couple showcases love without sex.
My only complaint is honestly how heavy it got near the end with the murder mystery. Sometimes, I'd like to watch a slice-of-life free of such tragic content, but this storyline was wrapped up much better than other dramas I've seen lately (*cough* Crash Course in Romance *cough*), and ultimately it delivered a powerful message of how people can overcome tragedies and horrific circumstances and still choose to live life and even find happiness.
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I love platonic relationships !!
This was in my watchlist way before it was released, was planning to watch after it got over but hesitated after that thinking there are no romantic scenes that I would like ...I was watching unlocked and Im si wan was looking very scary to me since then so i planned to start this drama to make his dandy gentle handsome boy image back to me ...
I don't like the concept of relationship irl but it seems cute in dramas ... But this is the only drama that made me feel single ... Im Si Wan's character is so amazing ... So his the FL but the ML made me want him 😭 ... I wish such men actually existed ... Him never getting anger ... Mature and understanding.. trying to heal ... Even the FL taught us a lot about life.
Whenever u r feeling depressed or overwhelmed, do watch this drama ... It make u feel relieved..
It taught us to just let thing be and let things go even though it's difficult irl but I'm sure at some point these lessons could help someone at some point in life ..
This is a short drama so u can complete it in 1 day if u r free ... Or 3 days max ...
I highly recommend it to everyone.
Everyone should watch such dramas at least once in their life.
I can't express in words how much I loved this story ... I hate side characters cuz i get confused and overwhelmed but this story was well paced and set... I loved everything about it...
You will love it too especially if when u r feeling down or frustrated about something... This drama and console u in so many different ways. 💜
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This series is well-balanced mix of life and romance.
I find this series very comforting. This is a fresh take on living your own life and finding genuine happiness.The writer seems to include the mystery case to have a wider audience, but in my opinion, this isn't needed in the story. Many viewers will still watch this series because of great portrayal of the characters. The story will still be good even if it only focused on life and romance. Being simple is also extraordinary nowadays.
The music isn't praise-worthy but not a bad one too. I easily recognize music if it deepens the emotions it portrays to or if it doesn't match the scenes at all.
"Know what you truly like. If being extravagant and living in a big city is what you like, then go for it. If living a simple life is what you like, then so be it. You can't find your happiness if you don't know yourself." ------ this is what I think of after watching this series.
I always check my drama list before finalizing the rating. The suggested rating is 7.5/10 but this series is a little above my dramas that I rated 7.5 so I will give this an 8/10.
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A Wonderful Story about Starting New Again
First off before I start reviewing anything about the story itself I have to say, the production team did a fantastic job with the cinematography and the location picking for the filming of this drama. This has to be the most visually pleasing drama I have ever watched and in terms of cinematography, it competes with some of my top western TV shows in that regard as well.Now onto the cast, the casting director deserves an award for their selection of this cast. Seolhyun and Si Wan are perfect leads for this show that really mirror the entire story perfectly. The supporting cast of Eun Soo, a.mond, Ye Young, Min Gyoo, Hye Jung, and the rest of the cast did a wonderful job in really making Angok feel like a real town with tons of intricate relationships and backstories.
The story of Yeo Reum being tired of the corporate world and wanting to break free of that bland life and start again a new after life throwing misery after misery at her really resonated with me. It made me instantly connect with her as a character. Dae Beom's very introvert personality and his trauma he faced growing up and going through intense schooling also instantly made me connect with him as a character. So I was instantly sold on these two main characters. Their love story throughout the show was so well done that it displayed a very unique choice, by not having the two leads not having their big kiss scene nor not even saying, "I love you" (although there was a scene where Dae Beom confesses his love to Yeo Reum indirectly however by saying he loves summer (Yeo Reum's name in Korean literally means summer). Bom and Jae Hoon's relationship also reminds me of my first ever relationship I had, although they got a happy ending instead! The drama does a wonderful job in making the good times, which there are plenty of, feel like really great times. However the show does a great job in making bad times feel like really bad times, which thankfully there are only a few but oh do they make you feel really depressed. But it finds a great way to re-instill hope and happiness back into you.
There were some bits and story choices I felt like weren't necessary and really didn't fit the plot and concept for show itself which prevented it from being the perfect drama. And lastly, the OST for this drama was fantastic. It did a great job in accompanying the emotions of the drama and really made everything feel so much more perfect.
Yeo Reum's parting wisdom really put the cherry on top of the drama:
“I thought about what happiness is. I looked it up in the dictionary. Happiness is a state of being pleased, fulfilled, and content in life. I found that definition to be too long, so I decided to make it shorter. Happiness. The state of being sufficient.”
I don't think any other drama will every top the feeling I got from watching this masterpiece of a drama. Fantastic, absolutely fantastic.
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Happiness… able to live with enough
Nice, lovely story about life… with a bit of romance,… but romance is not the main topic here.Sometimes life is just too much… cutting off all the ropes that tie us to a place, a job, a person…. Might seem dramatic but it might be the solution to .. life..
Literally going on a strike
FL could do that and broke all her attachments…. Let destiny take you to a place far distant from where you are.
I found this story a bit philosophical in its core…. But quite lovely.
Very slow, but still all characters were interesting enough to keep you watching.
Yes, I recommend it for those moments when you need a break from other heavier stories ..
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healing, cute and a bit frustrating
Summer strikes is a healing drama about leaving the terribly suffocating city of Seoul and instead coming to a small town to rediscover yourself.There are many good things I have to say, so let's start there. The main characters were so incredibly cute, they had me kicking feet and giggling. Despite this, there were moments that were very touching and melodramatic. Although at times frustrating, the characters were somewhat relatable and had a good chemistry. I don't think I will ever shut up about how insanely good of an actor Im Siwan is.
Now let me explain why I didnt give Summer strike 10 stars despite all this. While the story started off as a cute slice of life, towards the end it turned into a mystery thriller. It sort of reminded me of Like Flowers in Sand, which was in many ways very similar and also received backlash for the unnecessary crime plot line. In the end, the ending was very rushed and it left me feeling disappointed. I wish there were like 2 extra episodes..
Having said all that, I still consider summer strike a cute drama that is worth watching. If nothing else, watch it for theain couple cause they are cuties.
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Soft fl x soft ml
Fl x 2fl
Getaway theme, healing and moving on
Even the bad people had soft hearts
The bad
Past trauma
Murder mystery
Angst
3rd fl and her love triangle
20 year mystery solved by randos
I’m glad they did say an old person ruined the dad’s alibi and that’s why he went to prison
Tho it’s sad the dad and son didn’t mend sooner, and the mom died… then grandma died…
And fl apologizing for those and things like the graffiti, more like she should’ve been angry and disappointed. She never healed her people pleaserness just found people that didn’t fully use her
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such a cute show.
I rlly liked the melancholy vibes of this show, and though it was still romantic, it was a seemingly sad/ cute. Idk the vibe confuses me, but the show was a good distraction otherwise. i rlly like si wan's shows and this is no exception. I recommend, but maybe some might get bored, This seems often but i didn't realize they didn't kiss at all and when i did i swear that wasn't true, but i havent even looked into it and either way idc.Was this review helpful to you?
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Could Have Been A Perfect Comfort Drama
I watched this show while I've lost my motivation about my academic success. The first episodes really gave me comfort. And it motivated me to live more simply. But i think that sub plot was too rushed, instead of killing the grandma they could’ve just focus on the backstories of Daebum and Yeoreum. You know, these two has real sad stories to share. It would have been perfect if they showed those kind of moments.Wasted potential at some point. But still, it was a great drama to watch.
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When Introverts Love…
The FL’s life is good until tragedy strikes - her boyfriend breaks up with her & moments later she learns that her mother passed away. Reeling from the weight of the events, she heads to a seaside village with a plan to do nothing but recharge & heal for a year.There she meets the ML, who was once a math prodigy with a bright future, but is now living a simple life as the town librarian. He’s a kind, quiet man with skeletons in his closet. When these two lost souls meet, a friendship slowly forms & a bond develops between them, blooming into a beautiful love.
The Leads are so sweet. Watching them work up the courage to approach one another & their awkward interactions is so cute. The actors did great! When I think of this couple, the words “quiet” & “peaceful” always come to mind. They don’t have a burning passion, but rather a warm & comfortable love. Like being wrapped in a favorite blanket, safe & secure. 💕
They’re both so low key that they’re often misunderstood. Like since they usually just listen, people think they don’t have much to say. Or because their strength isn’t outwardly overt, they’re assumed to be weak-minded & weak-willed. Watching these two stay true to themselves & not give in to the pressures to change was so satisfying. As a fellow introvert, I really related to them.
The only “negative” was the SFL - she really annoyed me with her selfish words/actions & her constant interference to make the ML to do/be what she wanted. I was really happy when he finally made things perfectly clear to her regarding his wants & feelings. 🙌🏻
_________\\__________//________
-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-
.
…
….
……
The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : 🙅🏻♀️💋
- Together : ep.11 👩🏻❤️👨🏻
- BreakUp: Nope 💖
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Summer Happiness, momentary.
Overall, a healing show with some plot holes.If you have time to spare and would like to destress, this would be quite a perfect show with slow movement. In terms of the chemistry between the two actors, I would say its doable because there isn't much of a interaction since they can pass it off as them being shy.
Love the music because I think it fits the vibes really well. Realism wise, I think they skipped quite some scenes so we have to fill in the blank ourselves, which isn't that hard. The biggest problem I would have would be the ending... The discovery of Sun-ah death and the whole case... I felt like there aren't enough time to explain every single detail.
I really love the small little parts of this whole story, like the small moments of their interaction, finding small happiness within all the things that we do. Im Si wan is good at acting so I wouldn't have anything to say about him. Seolhyun improved greatly for this role, maybe because there wasn't much expressions for her to portray.
I really love the grandma though! This drama is really soothing and comforting for my soul although I think the two main leads do not have a huge chemistry unlike most drama. I like how every single character in the drama portray a certain part of people that we would encounter in our life.
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Pretty good if you can get through the first three episodes
Honestly I almost dropped this show, the first three episodes were so heavy and frustrating, everybody was walking all over the FL and I could not believe how the townspeople could be so horrible. How can a town be full of terrible people, what is wrong with all of them, argh. It's kind of boring when only a few characters are enjoyable and the rest are just crap characters. They were all so selfish and despicable. I love shows where even the side characters are funny or bring something to the story, you know. I would look forward to the next scene with them.So I finally managed to get to episode 4 and then I started to enjoy the story and the friendship that was developing between the ML and the FL. The story with Bom was cute as well, and I enjoyed most of the story from then on.
Also, I often don't really care about the SML, they are okay most of the time, but I can never stand the SFL, why are they always so toxic and annoying? And in this show it was not different, Ji-yeong annoyed the hellllll out of me, get a life girl, you spent your whole life with the guy and he's never been interested in you, he won't be interested now either, and it's not the FL's fault. Anyway.
The ML and FL were cute, as were Bom and her boyfriend. Probably won't rewatch though, I will be looking for a better and lighter slice of life drama.
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