Wasted potential
The storyline was not new but I personally still liked it. But the finale? I don't think it was well presented. It left me with a "that's it??" (on the negative side).The problem with this drama is the plot holes:
-Who was Denis truly?
-How/why did Dongbaek fall in love with the director?
-What happens with Denis after the time skip?
-Does the director recover his memory?
I saw a post where it explained everything about the manhwa and it was so much better than the series finale. It explained everything very well so, if you are not watching because you specially like the actors, I recomend to directly read the manhwa.
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Straight outta Wattpad
Kudos to South Korea for always having innovative plots that tend to involve time travel or supernatural occurrences.This time, it’s a cursed soul looking for a specific person, and desperately trying to fall in love with them because if he doesn’t, they will end up dying. Just like in all their previous lives.
If not for this plot, the behaviour of the director would actually have been reallllyyyyy creepy and unacceptable. Imagine taking your employee out for dinner on his first night and telling him, “We need to date” / “If you don’t date me, you may die.”
Frankly, the whole thing gives me the heebie-jeebies and all this could have easily been a HR/police case in the real world… But I’ll cut this story some slack because it’s clearly straight out from Wattpad.
Let's be clear: I don’t have anything against Wattpad-esque shows. Sometimes, a cringey, back-you-up-against-a-wall-and-tell-you-they-won’t-hold-back-any-longer show is exactly what you need. DWBMD is big on these tropes, but thin on the actual love story. It was puzzling how Yudam and Dongbaek fell in love rather quickly, and I couldn’t vibe with their chemistry that much.
The plot, while seemingly promising at first, fell flat on the execution. It was super confusing at some parts and took about 6-7 episodes (OUT OF 10, MIND YOU), for the show to start revealing the backstory of what’s going on. And by the end, I was still left with some unanswered questions.
Full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2023/01/14/director-who-buys-me-dinner-2022-bl-review/
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if you are bored watch it
I mean at first when I watched it I was like "I don't know, is a little bit boring, it don't have the vibe", but then it starting to be better.I definitely want some special episode, because I just want see them happy, but I don't need season 2.
I don't know, but when I watch something I just need see more happy moments at the end, I want special episode so bad!!!
I really liked the acting. I was crying twice, it's kind of emotional, but it's not that hard.
I recommend this if you don't know what to watch or if you are bored.
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Can't stop thinking about this one...
As often happens with KBLs, I find myself not 100% liking them the first watch through, but after some time and a rewatch I become obsessed and can't stop thinking about it. This one is no exception.The plot itself is interesting enough, but with this one, the performances really make this show something special. It has a fantasy element that is enjoyable, but I really like how the character get to know each other in the modern world but how they still can't escape their fate. The "bad guy" of the story was also interesting in both timeline, but more so in the modern world one.
I would 100% recommend this one!
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Rushed but Refreshing: The Director Who Buys Me Dinner
Korean Drama: The Director Who Buys Me Dinner10 episodes, each ranging from 10 to 17 minutes.
Now let’s get to the details. It seems the production faced financial limitations, which resulted in events being compressed in an annoying way. I didn’t like how the story ended in just 10 episodes without clarifying the rest of the plot. They could have reduced costs by removing some unnecessary side characters who were only there to fill the screen. I also didn’t like how the relationship between the two leads concluded this way. While I knew the ending would be sad, the story still felt incomplete due to the rushed pacing.
On the positive side, I loved the harmony between the two leads—their chemistry was amazing. What I especially liked is that, unlike other BL dramas, their love story was already established in a past life as two men. I laughed at several funny moments, like when he was drinking and the bottle was taken away from him. I also enjoyed how the main character acted spoiled while still trying to keep up with his lover.
The story itself is fresh and not repetitive, but the excessive cramming of events caused noticeable gaps and left parts of the narrative feeling empty. Overall, despite its flaws, it’s still a new and interesting take compared to the typical boys’ love dramas.
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This review may contain spoilers
Good, but slightly sad and bittersweet at the end, I wish there was a bit more. I read the manhwa from this long a ago, so I went back to the last chapter to check and yes it was exactly as rushed as here, except that the one who remembers everything is the director instead of Donghae like in the drama. Was this review helpful to you?
Underdeveloped but sweet
The episodes were too short for type of plot, if they were hour episodes so we can see their past and a slower fall in love process, it would have been better. I never watched the webtoon it was based on so my rating is based solely on this series. The summary vaguely matches the plot but then again most drama I watch the summary can be taken for a grain of salt. I really did like it and hope there is a movie version without the 10 mins of next episode and catch up previews, such a waste of run timeWas this review helpful to you?
Fire or cold?
I just started to read the manwha and what I can say now It's they really deserve attention, they are good, they are dope, i really enjoy the drama, i wish to watch in 2022. The actors are incredible, they did a pretty good job, the soundtrack was amazing, the story is FIRE. or cold maybe the two, I want to see them together again and I hope they make a movie when the end are more good. The only bad points is in the story but the team make miracle with the story, we need more information, other season and a bettet end.Was this review helpful to you?
NOT A HAPPY END / ITS AMBIGUOUS
really really enjoyed tbh it was kind of devastating BUT the concept is one that I adore, reincarnation but make it doomed ??? a win I do think that the people saying it needed more run time have a point but I think no matter how long it was it would have had the same end, they’re doomed in every lifetime are they not? I do think this show does a good job of highlighting the importance of the here and now, the acting was great and I really enjoyed the historical scenes. though it’s not one you rewatchWas this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Not bad for a KBl
CONTAINS SEMI SPOILERS IG
Thoughts:
I’m honestly a little disappointed. The webcomic for this drama has 48 episodes while the drama has only 10 episodes that are about 15 mins each. The director in the webcomic is drawn to be a bit younger and acts more flirtatious and full of emotions than the drama one. The webcomic Seol DongBaek is just so cute. He acts super sweet and innocent. Now, typically I don’t find myself enjoying KBl due to the incredible short amount of run time and lack of understanding. However I think this KBl is by far one of the best ones that explains what tf is happening. In other Kbls it mostly just skims around and jumps so you can never fully grasp but I found myself understanding for the most part what was happening. The concept of this was actually pretty interesting but I feel like it just told what happened to them 300 years ago and doesn’t like explain much about why they like each other or what they did together as a couple 300 years ago since they were definitely not of the same class in hierarchy. It just said ‘hey you name that kid? Well he’s going to die and now you guys are stuck reincarnating to fall in love. One of you is going to remember the other is not. Oh and btw if you guys fail to fall in love one of you is going to suffer and yk possibly die.’ And that’s pretty much it. I feel it didn’t explain enough about the curse at all. The curse was just ‘y’all are going to live forever and fall in love or else die on each reincarnation.’ It never really explained how the curse would be lifted or when they would know.
This is a pretty cute Kbl. The acting isn’t bad at all. Although I am confuzzled because before the director is like kind of emotionless and serious but after um everything he’s like oddly warm and welcoming to Seol DongBaek. Maybe it’s because he don’t remember anything. Idk anymore. Although in the drama when the director gets flustered I must say it is funny and kinda cute in a sense. The acting is nice and pretty believable. I think the chemistry is great and was not bad at all. The way the cast acted was very good.
The story:
Firstly I have a theory that Denis may in fact be the killer from 300 years ago who was also cursed to keep reliving over and over again. So maybe the curse is more of a ‘hey fall in love or your killer will like yk become a murderer again.’ The story is not bad at all. It’s nice and has a good flow of events. However I personally would’ve liked to see Seol DongBaek regain his memories. I mean it’s fine that he doesn’t and it doesn’t change the story but if he did I think that would’ve been pretty cool. I would’ve definitely like to have seen more of the director and Seol DongBaek’s relationship. I almost feel like Seol DongBaek spent more time with Denis than the director. This may be petty but I need more of jealous director moments. I swear if the director found out about the um cosmetic situation with Denis he’d flip. This Kbl definitely has its comedic moments though. I mean I’m sure some of you have seen shorts on YT about it. This Kbl actually has a lot of emotions happening. So be prepared *dabs eyes with tissue*
Music: The music was actually really good. I think the intro music was really cute and I thought it was very nice. Now the OST was freakin beautiful. It fits perfectly for this Kbl. It was so emotional.
I definitely have already rewatched it because I think it’s pretty enjoyable. It’s nice and simple with just the right amount of emotion. I just pray we get a second season because WTF was that ending? I mean come onnnn. You can’t end a Bl like that and make no announcements about a second season. Although it is pretty in line with the ending of the webcomic so I guess I can’t be too mad at it.
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This review may contain spoilers
Don't think of this as a series...
I have read many of the reviews and found that because expectations were not met - this is a bad series or, has too many flaws.If you haven't seen it yet - remove that thinking before you even watch this.
Think of it as a movie cut up into a mini series. What I have found and, thanks to Viki - many of these productions are movies that are cut up and presented as series. On some platforms you have the choice to watch the 10-12 episodes with recaps - five minute intro songs and 4 minutes of closing credits. Or, you can watch it as it was originally made - a three plus hour movie in one wonderful sitting (Semantic Error and Wish You are two good examples).
I watched The Director... in its multiple episode format and forgave them for all the wasted time. I learned to fast forward through the beginning and skip the credits. This is a movie and should eventually, be presented as one.
If you look at the story (and I have watched it whole three times), they covered all the bases. They showed you:
- Who - the principle characters back then and now. Back then and now - he only thought of himself and didn't think about or, care about the repercussions. It was only after ignoring the warnings and watching him die again that he let go of all the control and regardless of what would happen to him - begged that Dong Baek's life be saved. The universe gives them another chance - wonderful ending.
- What - while we would all like more detail, they covered everything. Back story, reasons why and good character development. All we needed to know about the Director Yu Dam is he is singularly focused and doesn't care who gets lost in the shuffle when he is going for what he wants. We see that he has used and tossed aside Dennis while waiting for Dong Baek.
- When - both past and present are covered enough for a K Drama movie. Just thank god it wasn't a Chinese 42 episode drama where they keep some of the main characters with mental issues so, they learn nothing for the first 24 episodes and only start to show growth after.
- Where and Why - Selfishness and single minded thinking drive the past and present. Everyone reacts to that. After he finally lets go of that need for control can we see finally working out.
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This review may contain spoilers
Worth it only if you want to be pissed off in the end
I hate sad or open endings in romance dramas. I don’t watch romance to be fucking depressed. That’s stupid. The content was squished into these small af episodes which left the viewers with no closure even though the webtoon gave us. I don’t want a BL that does not necessarily have a chance for a second season to have such an open ended shitty ending. I want closure and a happy ending. The writers and director just need to be creative if they want to create a second season that doesn’t suck as well. Not this though. Both of the main actors were amazing. Denis was such a stupid character. Angry and insane with no little to no explanation unlike in the webtoon. At least make the dumb shit he does make sense. Too bad these two amazing lead actors were stuck with such a shitty ending. Worth it but only if you want to be pissed off in the end.Was this review helpful to you?
