We all carry scars that no one sees, and this story reminds us of that in the most delicate way. Through each character, Light Shop shows how even in the deepest darkness, a light can appear to guide us — along a path of forgiveness, love, and hope.
It deeply moved me because beyond the plot, it’s a reminder that every soul deserves a second chance.
Yes, it’s a slow drama, but it’s definitely worth watching.
Was this review helpful to you?
2Like walking into a dream, so unlike what you've seen.
A very mindfully written story. It breaks the stereotype of psychological thrillers being about murderous or powerful individuals. Set in the same universe as “Moving” and “Timing” (both stories from the same author), it presents a tightly woven and gripping chronicle about life, death, near-death experiences, and the afterlife.Starting with the narrative, which in the very first episode is presented from the perspective of individuals thrown into the afterlife who don't know anything, just as we viewers didn't understand what was happening either. The very first moment served as a great introduction to the drama; even if the two characters weren't the only ones with a story to tell, starting with their perspective was, in my opinion, an apotheotic success.
After that, we began to learn what was truly going on from different points of view. The main characters are not the sole focus throughout the drama, but they shine like thunder; even those who were extras still had a substantial impact. The drama builds upon the fundamental idea of the afterlife, offering a richer perspective on this theme.. Every episode revolves around something our characters experienced in their lives that somehow led them there, and whether they can find the will to keep on living or to move on.
But it was different, deeper, and more impactful than anything I’ve ever seen. There’s a rich tapestry of legends and lore cementing each movement and its path, like the red string of fate, the woman in white, the slender shadow, the guardian, and the light at the end of the tunnel. I won’t lie; it was all brilliantly connected.
The plot brings forth various questions and concurrently reveals the true nature of human emotions: regret, guilt, sacrifice, empathy, understanding, forgiveness, love, hate, and crucially, whether to advance or remain attached (and what follows as a result). The conclusion stood out, highlighting how our choices affect not just our own souls but also the souls of others. It was beautiful to watch it all unfold.
The music was minimal yet poignant; the atmosphere, ambiance, scenery, and pace were perfectly on point. The acting was top-notch, even the children nailed their parts. I went in blind, not knowing what it was, what to expect, or even reading the synopsis—nothing—but I have absolutely no complaints. There were no loopholes, no unfinished business, nothing. Masterful storytelling.
Was this review helpful to you?
The best storytelling and amazing plot twist!
The light ship will take you on a amazing journey that you did not expect at all. The first four episodes, you think it's a scary horror and wonder what is going on, but once episode 5 hits, you're like WTF and you cannot move because you are so hooked. The plot twist is amazing and will blow your mind. It is awesome to see the story unfold, and with each episode, you discover something new. I cannot say more without spoiling it for you. You just have to watch it!This drama has the best storytelling.
The production and screenwriting are amazing. I haven't seen such a good plot twist in a long time. I love how they make you think it's a normal horror story, but they lead you, and you just have to say WOW.
The drama will leave a lasting impression on me for a long time. The post-credits scene is probably setting up a new season of *Moving*. I cannot wait.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
A story in 2 part that just delivers until the end .
The first 4 episodes almost made me believe that it wasn't a gem.... During those, we don't understand much and we are in a strange atmosphere which keeps us within it without convincing us either . The breaking point is the end of episode 4 where we are shown the different characters in the hospital. The following 4 episodes are just magnificent, showing us all types of relationships and developments, each more poignant than the last. Tears come repeatedly throughout this journey on the thin edge between life and death. All the characters have their importance, play their role perfectly and are carried by very good actors.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
A perfect healing drama
I know what you're thinking; Light Shop, a healing drama?But hear me out, I have my reasons:
For someone like me who hadn't even read the synopsis and had no idea what the premise of the drama was it was a very confusing ride at the beginning. when you begin the drama you feel completely lost and yet you can't look away, every scene to me was super gripping, and it kept me wanting more, the emotions and the arcs that each character went through although were quite sad, at the same time it had a healing effect on my psyche, don't know how else to explain it🥺it had the same kind of vibe as "Move To Heaven" for me, just like MTH crying with the characters helped me unburden myself too😭 so chances are if you like MTH you'll like Light Shop too😜
What the drama did so well:
1. The acting by each actor/actress was in one word: "perfection" they played their characters like their life depended on it(literally🤣)
2. the background music was top-notch too and managed to set the mood for each scene perfectly.
3.they did a fantastic job portraying how each human being is different and might make a different decision, or how each ghost differs from one another, like how Seon Hae decided to stay, that was such a touching moment.
4. the fact that they didn't keep the identity of the other world vague or open to interpretation was fantastic too, a lot of dramas do the vague and never mentioned outright tactic which I hate.
5. the fact that they didn't make excuses for the bus driver in the afterlife was a nice touch too, they outright said that he was at fault and left it at that, so many dramas try to absolve individuals that are at fault by making a montage of their life with a happy music and attempt to force us to like said character.
6. loved that Won Yeong finally met his daughter and now has her and even a dog as companions now.
7.the different aspects of Delirium after ICU was a brilliant touch too, again emphasizing how each human is different from one another.
Stuff I didn't enjoy in the drama:
1. Nothing, it was perfection
PS: my girl Ji Yeong deserved someone so much better than Hyeon Min, and I was really hoping Hyeon Min's mom to be prosecuted for murder, but that was more wishful thinking on my part, cuz I knew they would never go there.
Was this review helpful to you?
A Show That Is Not All It Seems - And It’s Very Good
The Light Shop is a magical tale that the Koreans do well. In some ways it is reminiscent of that very good kdrama remake Life on Mars. The use of a bus in this show also draws out some parallels with the fabulous CDrama: Reset. Not is all that it seems, little hints are dropped along the way of what show might be about and we are exposed to characters that the actors truly relish.As such, The Light Shop is very much a story in two halves. The first is mysterious with elements of horror. We are introduced to all the characters, and in a way that we want to know more about them. The second half provides an in depth breakdown regarding the role of each character. Questions raised in the first half, culminate in an explanation during episode 7 regarding the light shop that makes perfect sense.
Many of the social issues and tragedies raised in kdramas are in this drama too. This show deals with them in a way that is very different and at the same time, engaging. and perhaps a little bit less sad due to how the issues are resolved. Show concludes in a way that provides little surprises here and there - they are delightful. If possible, binge this show - I think it’s worth it.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Biggest plot twist for me
Biggest plot twist for me is the connection to the Series "Moving" at the end. OMG i screemed. After crying buckets i was so happy at this twist. Loved the Moving so damn much!!!! Just...WOW. The finger snapping guy was also mentioned in the Moving series but faceless. He will probably get his own story next now that his face is revealed.Was this review helpful to you?
Great Suspense Building, Eerie, Sobering
My 4 categories are Acting/Cast, Writing, Direction/SFX/Music, Entertainment Value.I went into this drama completely blind, which I would suggest to do it that way. I'll try not to say too much in this review. Also, be in the mood to watch a drama that builds suspense gradually. If you're in a rush, you may find it slow. I didn't find it slow at all. I think this drama builds suspense very well. I was also completely unaware of the world behind this drama (I had no idea it was connected to another drama) and that seems to have affected my opinion of this drama.
Acting/Cast: The cast is what attracted me to this drama. Good cast with good acting. I don't think anyone in particular really stood out to me through their acting alone though. There are many different characters in this drama, so the scenes between each character don't last very long before switching to the next. There are certain storylines, however, that stand out. 8/10
Writing: I was able to figure out very early on what was going on. It's not much of a mystery. I'd say that this drama is mostly psychological, which is good because that's my favorite Korean drama genre. I like the writing style of this drama a lot - how they give us little pieces at a time throughout the drama to put together ourselves. The way it's done makes this drama extremely emotionally heavy, with it becoming more and more distressing as the drama goes. This is not a happy drama by any means, but there are times of hopefulness. The best way I can describe this story is that it's psychologically realistic. It doesn't sugarcoat anything, but it also isn't overly dramatic. The story does start to get confusing towards the end. This may be because I have no prior knowledge of the webtoon universe this story comes from. There's a cameo at the end, which caused me to realize this drama is part of something bigger. I don't feel like I can fully appreciate the story now. 7.5/10
Direction/SFX/Music: This drama is very well-produced. They did great in creating a very eerie, somber, and a sort of nightmarish atmosphere through the lighting, SFX, and music. There is a point where the drama switches to black and white. I'm not sure why. I wasn't a fan of it though. 8/10
Entertainment Value: This drama changes genres a bit through its course. I don't know if that helped it or hurt it. However, for me, I think I would have preferred it to keep more of its initial vibe throughout the entire drama. I'd imagine it would have made a greater impact emotionally and it would be interesting to see how the writers intermingle the two opposing ideas (horror and despair vs love and hope), but then again...maybe it would have resembled Sweet Home too much. In any case, this drama held my attention through to the end. Eight episodes is a perfect length for this story. It didn't feel rushed. It didn't drag. This drama is emotionally heavy and, for me, it was that way from the beginning. I was confused toward the end though, not knowing what was "real world" and what wasn't and not understanding the world that this story is apart of. 7/10
Overall, I gave this drama a 7.5/10. I liked it much more than Moving (which I had rated a 6). It doesn't feel dragged out like Moving does. I like the thought-provoking nature of the story. It does a good job at straddling the fence between hope and despair.
Was this review helpful to you?
Cinematography is unlike any kdrama I've yet seen
Watched EP 1-3 so far. The cinematography immediately has me thinking of Stanley Kubrick films (e.g. 2001 A Space Oddity/The Shining/Eyes Wide Shut). It's mesmerizing. Pacing, perspectives, and soundscapes are distinct, too. Urged to binge, but have had to sit and absorb what I've watched for at least a full day between the three episodes I've watched so far.Story-wise, still completely clueless on the overall narrative thread, but fascinated. Reminds me of a Stephen King short story.
But so far, more compelled by the artistry of the filming than anything else.
Was this review helpful to you?
Confusing but artistically so
I completely get the reviews saying its confusing or those questioning the plot but im not going to lie this drama feels like it was made with a focus on the cinematography rather than the plot which i actually enjoyed sooo much like it was so beautifully filmed.Dont get me wrong, i was confused for most of it and theres still several questions unanswered but it was so beautifully filmed i was confused but simultaneously satisfied.
The colour choices, the lighting (of course), the camera angles, the transitions, that episode where the characters perspectives were in black and white except for certain objects, honestly honestly *chefs kiss*
I saw reviews criticising the lack of depth in terms of acting but again i feel like it was more of an artisitc choice rather than a deficit in the writing, and they all done amazing regardless imo !
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
SORRY FOR THE ONES WHO DROPPED
i started this show out of nowhere without any expectations tbh.First of all the story was really good idk why others say otherwise but man it was good the cast was well picked the acting was everything they made me cry nonstop the emotions were delivered to viewers nicely binged watched all the eps in one breath the ending left me excited and confused af like the go young jung cameo??!! ig s2 will be connected to moving??? idk moving was a top tier drama and if it got connected with this honestly idk what will happen but i will look forward to it gladly idk why some dropped this drama tbh i would recommend them giving another chance to this drama thoWas this review helpful to you?
