I fear my standards have been raised
The most beautiful K-drama I've ever watched. I cried during almost every single episode. I seruously don't get why this drama isn't more popular. Please watch it, you guys. You have no idea what you're missing.Every man should watch this drama and take notes for Jang Hyun. Seriously... where is my Jang Hyun? My standards were already high, and this man somehow managed to raise them even higher. Now I'm supposed to find someone who can live up to this? Yeah... good luck to me.
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i need a cigarette
every tongue that rises against yu gil chae shall fall.no, but in all seriousness, this was one of the best historical k-dramas i have ever watched, i love how saeguks are making a comeback! the first half of the show was cinematic and excellent in every way, but falls apart a bit in the second half plot-wise.
i felt so emotionally drained by the end that i couldn't even enjoy GC and JH's (umpteenth) reunion. i also felt very confused about how some things were left off (i.e. who put RE in the asylum, who succeeded the king, the resolution between eun ae and yeon jun).
i would rate it like this: the first half was 9/10, but the second half was a 5.5/10 for me. a strong start with a mediocre, albeit happy, finish.
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Maybe the best Kdrama of all times.
Ok, I have watched many K-dramas so far—many stories, many romances, many dramas.I have to say that this might be the best K-drama ever. Everything is in the title: "My Dearest"… The romance is "romancing" and It is not the childish romance you often encounter; it is a mature, healthy romance— it is ride or die.
You get attached to all the characters, even those you’re supposed to hate. You feel the pain, the struggle, the love, the hate… Everything is so well written that it’s scary. One episode, I’m laughing; the next minute, I’m crying.
I don’t know why, but this K-drama reminds me so much of Alchemy of Souls. The same loneliness after finishing it… It was hard to go through all the episodes because I knew I would suffer.
If you’re hesitating, don’t. It is worth watching.
One thing I learned is that true love can never fade, even in the face of all the hardships in the world.
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This review may contain spoilers
Blooming Flowers at War
This show is a stunning cinematographic experience with amazing soundtrack and acting. The start is slow but the show rewards the viewer later with its killer plot - tension, betrayal and desperation. It is a story of one man that risks it all for the woman he loves and holds on to his values no matter the consequences.In all honesty, this is a frustratingly interesting story. It somehow keeps you watching long after you've given up on the characters. I did struggle with our main leads at times, but I have to say that it was a brilliant move to not make them perfect. The viewer gets to see them actually evolve and find what holds them together in a world divided by war and violence.
The actors did a wonderful job portraying such complex characters. Yoo Gil Chae was the epitome of a naive and entitled girl who had not yet seen life outside of her village. Only when Gil Chae meets a worldly man and has to fight to survive, does she finally start to face some hard truths and truly grow. The journey was long and painful, but she saved so many people on the way that I felt like she redeemed herself.
I was quite literally glued to my screen every time our main man, Lee Jang Hyun, had something to say. It felt like a message of utmost importance was being delivered as he masterfully built that tension through powerful body language and enunciation. I haven't seen such a talented actor in a long time. He was unrivaled, raw charisma.
This is no casual drama experience. It requires determination and willingness to power through some mind-blowingly maddening moments. However, Part 2 serves us even more madness, so this is just the appetizer. Enjoy!
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Super
My Dearest stands out for its ability to blend a great love story with a violent, cruel and deeply human historical context. The character ofJang-hyun is too charming, cultured, ironic. The evolution of the character Yoo Gil-chae, from a vain flirtatious woman, who I didn't like at all, is surprising.
The historical context is not a simple background, but an active protagonist.
The direction is elegant and refined, with photography that enhances the natural landscapes, traditional costumes and the emotion of key moments. The soundtrack, melancholic and sweet.
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Gil Chae needs to make up her mind
I’m genuinely furious. I get that he left her multiple times and everything but how could he have predicted that Gil-Char would’ve thought he was dead. I’m sure that if he knew she thought that then he would’ve RAN to her side to let her know he’s alive yet she blamed him. Also, I don’t get how she can be SO CLOSE to getting in the boat with him but ending up leaving him there waiting for her and then he even goes out to search for her. Oh and I don’t know how his feelings for her didn’t completely vanish after she gave him that lunch box and wrote “I do not possess enough trust or love to give you my life.” LIKE WHAT. And I know she doesn’t really mean the words because she has to take care of her father and her family back home but still like I can’t. And Ryang Eum needs to back off Jang Hyul like I know your secretly in love with him but you don’t gotta mess up his life. Oh and Gil Chaes future husband talking about some “if they committed adultery it wouldn’t be a crime to kill the man and his wife.” Like I wish Gil Chae would’ve heard that before she went off and left Jang Hyul to go marry that man. Anyway, I’m furious genuinely like I don’t get why they can’t just stay in one place and be happy but no there’s all this hot and cold and push and pull. Sigh, but I will continue watching just to see their reunion but genuinely I wouldn’t fault Jang Hyul for hating her because she genuinely is playing with his feelings. However, I already know he couldn’t possibly hate her because he quite literally YEARNS for no one but her. I just need their happy ending.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
The yearning. The longing. The angst.
Someone should have given me a warning before I started this drama. OH LORD. This drama absolutely tore me apart.Both leads — OMG — they each have their own charm.
Let’s start with the male lead, Jang Hyun.
BOY. I tell you. He is the ultimate walking red-and-green flag combo 😭💔
Green flag: He’s humble, never flashy. He would literally go to war just to save her. The way he talks??? The words he says??? I FOLDED AHAHAHA 💀
He even bought her SO MANY pairs of the flower shoes just because she asked for the prettiest one 🥺 He really, truly likes her.
Red flag: He keeps leaving her… WHY??? He could’ve stayed and fought beside her 😩
Now the female lead — at first, I found her annoying and kinda irritating.
BUT as the episodes went on, you realize her very personality is what saved not just herself, but everyone around her. She’s a keeper.
Yeah, she was blinded by her first crush, and sure, her attitude toward Jang Hyun sometimes made me scream into the void... BUT even after realizing she liked him, she still chose to hurt him 🔪
That said, I get it. She chose her family — a father with dementia and a young brother to care for. Ugh, poor thing 🥲
BUTTTT why didn’t Jang Hyun just ask her to bring the whole family with him???
Why didn't he say that??? I’m confused.
And then Part 1 ends with them separated... and both have new love interests??? WHYYYYYYYY 😭😭
Anyways,
Cinematography? 10/10
OST? 10/10
Quotes? 10/10
The acting? SOLID. Both of them delivered.
This drama has easily become one of my favourites.
Best quote:
“I swear by the moonlight. This time, wherever you are, I will make sure I find you.” 🌙
THIS. QUOTE. RIGHT. HERE. GIRL. I folded when he said that. And the fact that he actually did find her again and again... 😭
Top OST picks:
🎵 “My Star” – Kim Feel
🎵 “Unforgettable Love” – Yang Yo Seop
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Both the parts' review
After watching both parts, I realized that it’s actually a well-written story. In the first part, I was irritated by Kil Chae’s character until the very end. She refused to accept that Yeon Joon loved someone else and kept interfering in his matters while disregarding Lee Jang Hyun’s emotions and sacrifices. In the end, she married another man, which frustrated me a lot.The second part continued in flashback, just like the first. An old man in jail agreed to tell Jang Hyun’s story but wanted to know what had happened to him first. This led to another series of flashbacks, forming the core of the second season. One thing that confused me was whether the old man was actually narrating the story to someone or just recalling it in his mind. Additionally, I wasn’t sure if the events we, as viewers, watched were his narration or simply the director’s way of showing us the past.
The story seemed to have a happy ending, but it still felt incomplete. I expected it to conclude with the old man, bringing full closure to the narrative.
At the end, I want to conclude by appreciating the outstanding performances of Namkoong Min, Ahn Eun Jin, Lee Hak Joo, Lee Da In, Kim Yoon Woo, Park Kang Sub, and Kim Seo An. While the entire cast did well, they were the best. I also want to mention the actor who played the role of the Crown Prince—his performance was remarkable.
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Trigger warning : You won't be able to stop watching!
What better drama to start writing reviews with than to start with My Dearest!There 's something about historical dramas that you just can't find in modern ones.
This is by far, the best historical drama I have watched so far. The ones I watched before like 'Love in the Moonlight ', ' Captivating the King', 'Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryoung ' etc were amazing as well, but nothing comes closer to MY DEAREST!
I have rewatched it not once, not twice, but thrice within the same week. So what if it is a slow burn? *sobs*
The acting, the bgm, the osts, *chef's kiss * Specially the ost ' With my heart' sung by Ahn Yun Ji who plays the female lead ' Gil Chae' had me in awe. The acting of both the leads, Namkoong min who plays ' Jang Hyeon' and Ahn Yun Ji was top tier and gosh, the facial control of NKM! I haven’t watched any dramas of NKM before and gosh he is an absolute gem of an actor. Ahn Yun Ji was also admirable, in her previous dramas like 'Hospital Playlist' , ' The Good Bad Mother' her acting was also amazing but in My Dearest, truly it reached new heights. The other actors and actresses did an wonderful job as well.
The Osts fit perfectly with every scenes and you can tell every scene was thought and implemented with much care. The chemistry of the leads made the drama even more enjoyable! I would suggest watching the behind the scenes after finishing the drama to cure the post drama sadness *sobs*
There were some things I was curious about ke the exact timeline of the events and what happens to ryung yeum in the end, and some other side casts like jong jong but I think it was actually meant for the viewers interpretation, and that's fine by me. This drama was an amazing and curious experince and I don't think I will ever forget this experience.
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Can't have the one you love, love the one you are with.
Generally, the so-called romance stories have little if anything that’s considered romance throughout the show. Here I can finally say we get to actually witness the love growing. It has other side stories that contribute to the plot as well, but nothing takes center stage over their growing love. There is action, family, trauma, wars, and much more. However, it still holds its weight as the main plot.Is this the best series to date? No, but it's the best script-turn series I have seen in a very long time. I have been watching these dramas as well, for two decades, and I can honestly say it's a gem. I would give it 4.2/5 on a 5-star scale and anything less than that would not be fitting.
I am a romance buff so I am very particular about my love stories. Their unknowing love faces challenges and setbacks like no other. You wouldn’t want to miss this ride.
The leads are great and so are the support actors. No one is overacting or failing to meet the expectations set by the viewers. It's pleasantly heartwarming even in the midst of a war.
You will definitely enjoy this one.
Happy viewing
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Good stakes but tonal whiplash
I know this entire series is highly regarded and there are moments where I can completely see why — it’s probably one of the most high-stakes historical dramas I’ve ever seen, and the acting and production value are all great. In this first batch of 10 episodes though, I found the tonal inconsistencies to be really difficult to keep up with.The first episodes are really light-hearted, and we have a really spoiled main female character; this definitely makes for good character development later on as layers get peeled back and we start seeing that there’s much more to her, but those first few episodes were really hard to sit through. That combined with a similar obnoxious personality for our male lead meant that I didn’t really root for our leads to be together — not until later. It doesn’t help that the show uses a lot of tropes that I don’t really buy into or that I find frustrating, like dream symbolism or miscommunications.
About halfway, the heavy stuff starts, and that’s when I start to care about it. The political strategy stuff is not always the most interesting to watch, but seeing the FL become stronger and try to protect her friends was great, and probably the highlight of the season. Which is why it kind of jarring weird when the tone suddenly reverted back to being bright again when the previous conflict was resolved. And then it went back to being dark again when another conflict was introduced. I’m not against moments of humor in shows with life-or-death stakes, but I think it wasn’t balanced very well between scenes or episodes.
I’m a little sad that I didn’t like this as much as the rest, but I still have high hopes for Part 2.
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