This review may contain spoilers
misogynistic garbage
finally finished this drama.it had such a good idea, but the script ruined everything. the second half is especially weak. they ignored the time skip, changed the lives of the main heroines and heroes, yet the characters somehow became even dumber than in their teenage years. yeong rye, poor miserable one, as she's portrayed here, starts fighting for jae pil only when jong hui appears. what were you doing all these 7 years??? jae pil is completely wooden here — both the actor and the character are absolutely useless. what especially made me laugh was how he hesitated in the last episode, wanting to go to yeong rye at the "miss korea" event. instead of just asking for time off, he waits like a kindergartener for the teacher to take him to the toilet. seriously, that’s what it looked like. and when a patient shows up, he suddenly decides to stay because he knows him? the guy who bullied jong hui. his motivation is weak too. he was aggressive toward jong hui, to the point she ran away from him, and now he suddenly worries about her? jae pil, instead of going to the woman he loves to support her, suddenly ditches her because of that crap? when there were plenty of other doctors around??
seriously, this drama does everything to justify men, even that bus driver who was absolutely awful in his attitude toward women. conflicts appeared out of nowhere. the screenwriter clearly lacked imagination.
the women here are eternal martyrs. not a single strong woman was shown. not one who knows what she wants and values herself, not competing for a "prize" in the form of men. the drama turned out to be very misogynistic.
seriously, i already don’t think much of romantic dramas, but ones like this make me want to stop even trying to give them a chance.
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Jaepil Should Be Sacrificed Instead
What a waste... great female leads casting, great premise, but a writer who couldnt write a girl friendship story without including a man. First half has great balance of family warmthness, friendship, worker struggles, and love. Second half to ending is full of nonsense cliches. There is already a bunch of ridiculous plot. So if only the writer chose to kill Jaepil at the end, then I would buy whatever friendship message they give at the end.Was this review helpful to you?
A hundred guesses
I started this drama knowing I was heading in for a slight mess and a mess I got. After the first episode I made a bunch of guesses, some came true, some had a slightly different angle and som where waaay off. As the episodes passed by I kept on guessing,, and again the same pattern... So as Kate said before me this drama is bothe highly predictable and not predictable at all. And I love that about it.I love most of the characters, yes they are frustrating at times but they have so much character, so many good lines and so many beautiful bonds. The girls are versatile fun, and Kim Da Mis love of getting certified at everything had me giggling.
Characters that did not get nealy enough screen time: The brother and his friend, each time these two entered the screen they stole the show delivering the deepest emotion (the friend) or the most insightful lines (the brother). Hte guys friendships, drinking habits and so on where also pretty nice to watch.
There are also a bunch of ships in this that keep circling around and changing sails...
That said I do believe the girls friendship (s) was and is the centrepiece of the drama, yes the boys come in as a distraction but it is clear that each action actually is tied in some way or another to the girls (not only mains) friendships and faound family. From the mothers, to the kids and grand kid the friendships go beyond what any romance could deliver.
Over to the cons, the ending is rushed there is just to much going on that last episode and while they do make an effort to tie it all together it falls short in several ways. One side character is annoying from start to finish (luckily very little screen time) and it does get messy both in a good but also in a bad way at times. The time skips are also rushed and I keep feeling like I am missing important pieces.
Still an easy binge with lots of fun lovable frustrating characters for the frustration lovers out there.
P.S. I recommend finding someone to share those guesses with while watching. Someone that wont spoil the plot but give you some hints...
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1980s Charm and Fire Chemistry: A True Hidden Gem
1980s Charm and Fire Chemistry: A True Hidden Gem: Why You Need to Ignore the Haters and Watch This RomanceI have to say, the current MDL ratings are often frustrating, with so many genuinely underrated shows getting overlooked in favor of over-hyped rom-coms. This show, however, is one I truly fell in love with. The story was great, the production was excellent, and the experience was truly captivating.
The drama beautifully captured the essence of the 1980s, providing a rich, nostalgic atmosphere. The pacing is spot-on, allowing time to introduce the characters and their backstories so the audience can connect deeply with the storyline and understand their struggles.
Sure, the first part covering the older days was fun, but man, the second part really takes off! That later period transition is full of scenes that made me laugh so much, and the romance gets insanely good. I swear, whenever Jae Pil and Yeong Rye (YR) showed up, their chemistry was so undeniable I couldn't help but giggle with happiness.
The character dynamics are absolutely the heart of the show. The story masterfully introduces the characters, allowing you to get to know them and their struggles deeply, and I especially loved the sisterhood among the bus attendants. The relationship between them—and how their views on the world evolve—draws you in completely. Plus, characters like Jeong Hyeon, that pure soul who was always there for Yeong Rye, added so much warmth. Finally, I also absolutely loved the character of Sang Cheol; he was just so cute, adorable, and a great friend. I was so happy for him, and I'm thrilled he got the happy ending he deserved.
I love how this drama avoided all the usual romantic tropes. Even though both Yeong Rye and Jong Hui were in love with Jae Pil, the show never forced the love triangle or created unnecessary drama, which is so common in other shows! It was genuinely refreshing to see the best-friend dynamic handled with such maturity, keeping the relationship strong without the typical melodramatic arguments (except for that one understandable moment near the end!).
Jae Pil and Yeong Rye are hands-down my favorite couple; their chemistry is just on fire! They're both so pure, and watching them together made me giggle and laugh so much.
This drama took me by surprise, and I was baffled after reading so many negative comments unfairly criticizing the characters. This show is a testament to quality storytelling, and the drama wrapped up with a perfectly satisfying happy ending.
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Love (and hurt) Memories
"Hundred Memories" is a drama that requires attention to detail , it’s about understanding that it breaks away from clichés. You rejoice in the friendship, cry and feel anger over misunderstandings, sense the tension of danger, but also witness the unity that endures through it all! It has emotional themes such as family, friendship, forgiveness, and many others. From the very first episodes, we notice YR’s sweetness and strength. We feel her pain as she gives up her own desires for the sake of others something visible both in her family and friendships, but it wouldn’t always stay that way. She learns to express her feelings and keep chasing her dreams.JH isn’t left behind when it comes to this strong friendship. She encouraged YR, took care of her siblings while YR’s mother was hospitalized, protected YR from her ex-boss, and faced many hardships, first with her brother, then by being adopted by an obsessive and controlling mother. She isn’t a bad person; she made mistakes, whether due to circumstances or her own emotions, but she had the chance to make amends to accept that love can’t be forced, to free herself from her mother’s control, and to return to being the cheerful, playful JH she once was.
At first, I was quite upset that JP ended up being “the one” LOL. I was really rooting for Jeong Hyeon! But considering that YR’s pure and genuine love had always been for Jae-Pil, it became acceptable and actually really sweet! It was a love born from hardship and friendship, between two families and between the two of them. ~Though I did get pretty frustrated with the boy haha.
The other characters were also essential to the story they brought humor, connection, and even more meaning to the concept of “family.” In the end, I was really afraid they would be separated; I missed a deeper reconciliation between them, but even so, I loved that they stayed together and that they would continue that way. <3
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GREAT WATCH IN THE BEGINNING, CRINGE CLICHE LATER
OMFG! I WAS SO HAPPY THAT THIS WILL BE ANOTHER DRAMA LIKE EXTRAORDINARY ATTORNEY, BUT WAS LEFT DISAPPOINTED WITH THE USUAL MANUFACTURED COINCIDENCES AND CLICHÉD NONSENSE!KIM DAMI CHARACTER IS SUCH A LOSER C...T , ITS UNBEARABLE TO WATCH AND THE OTHER GIRL SHIN YE EUN CHARACTER IS SO CRASS , SLEFISH, CONNIVING AND MANIPULATIVE, I FELT RAGE WHENEVER I WATCH HER ON THE SCREEN ! WHY WALK TOWARDS HOSPITAL IN RAIN INSTEAD OF LOOKING FOR YOUR GOOD FRIEND ?
DOCTOR IS AN UNBELIEVABLE OBE DIMENSIONAL ACTOR DOESN'T DESERVE A MENTION ! IF SOMEONE COMES AND HUG ME SUDDENLY I VIOLENTLY PUSH THEM AWAY , NOT STAND THERE TAKING IT LIKE A DUMMY
HOPE THE DRAMA ATLEAST WOULD HAVE A GOOD ENDING
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Friendship is the true love story.
A Hundred Memories reminded me a lot of Reply 1988. Yes, obviously for the time period the story is set on but also because of the treatment some characters got. I would say this kdrama is harsher and less nostalgic, which I like more since it showed some realities overlooked in other stories.This is a lovely story about the growing pains of youth in a society rapidly changing and learning how the people we chose to welcome in our life can become our true family.
Although it frustrated me at times, I also really enjoyed watching it. I didn’t appreciate the love triangle when it was clear how the story would go and I am even mad at the WASTED time the characters (and audience) could have had on some particular developments and endings. IYKYK.
The strong point is definitely the performances. I know many came to this kdrama for Heo Nam Jun but I think we can all agree my man Kim Jung Hyun keeps establishing himself as one of the best actors of his generation. Other actors like Jeon Sung Woo and Lee Won Jung are leaving this project with a couple of hundred new fans for sure.
Kim Da Mi and Shin Ye Eun are a force of nature, and some of the most interesting actresses working today IMO. They built the core of this story with ease and charm, and I was cheering for them all the way. Their friendship is the true love story in A Hundred Memories.
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Nostalgic and cute I don't understand the negative reviews...
a 7.6 for such a drama? what is happening to MDL?It was such a nice drama in a while I don't understand, first of all their acting and the whole cast is 10/10 second of all, I get it the plot isn't something novel and new the typical friendship and love triangle but come on, it's still a good watch. It has all the elements, the platonic girl's relationships, first loves and sad second leads, friends to lovers and the unexpected cute second or shall i say third couple hehe.
I loved that it was pretty unpredictable to guess who will end up with who because normally you can tell who is going to be with who from the beginning of the story, in this case everyone have a good strong chemistry together so that was new and interesting. I love the vibes of the show, it made me feel a ray of Reply 1988, that community and family warmth, it was comforting and nostalgic. Personally I would give it a 8/10 but I have to rate it 10/10 because I think the ratings aren't doing it justice.
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1st time I realized 2nd lead cliche
I really loved this drama at the start, all the characters were written great & loved their bond but the classic trying to paint main lead character as the pure & kind character & getting everything was what I hated the most. 2nd female lead actually sacrificed more, gave money for her friend surgery & gave up guy she liked for her best friend but at the end she was robbed of everything & even destiny played cruel joke of not giving her anything no warm family, friends nor lover. Like she was utterly alone despite her being equally as kind as main character. Cliche of main character always getting to do the right thing while not losing anything & also getting to be the pity character when she gets stabbed, 2nd female lead would have done the same but she was kinda treated like bad character by her best friends mom & friends even though it wasn’t her fault. So watching the last few episodes I found it hypocritical. The first time I hated the main leads so much.Was this review helpful to you?
My waiting for this drama was in vain
The author builds inconsistent main characters and becomes embarrassing. The naive YR becomes a hypocrite, JH who always appears brave becomes a coward, strong giant JP becomes a crybaby and do nothing to prove love...Sangchoel who loves YR even though his family will oppose him because YR is only a conductor suddenly can choose a woman who doesn't dare to be honest with the father of her own daughter, YS who forgets his own words to JH not to run away from problems but instead pays for tickets and gives money to JH to run away even though he already knows there is a problem going on and "daddy long legs" who loves YR from the beginning of the story and is still loyal until the end and the most influential in the fate of friendship, love and live is instead considered useless by the author and asked to leave.I really regret the story and characters written by the writer, the director failed to fill the empty plot, while the actors were unable to do anything... my waiting for this drama was in vain
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A Bus Full of Memories
What does “memory” mean to you?- For me, it’s like a bus that has already left.
+ But if you stay there and wait patiently, it will surely come back.
About the story, I’ll tell you: the main focus is friendship—two people whose bond develops quickly but is very valuable to them. They do everything they can to protect each other, even if it means sacrificing themselves.
Many people didn’t like how the story progressing, but I disagree with them. They just had certain expectations in their minds that the story didn’t follow. That doesn’t mean it’s a bad story. But rest assured, it has a happy ending; everyone ends up happy. And so do I.
If you ask about the acting, it was amazing. I’ve seen Kim Da-mi in many roles, and this one was different for them—but she handled it really well. As for Seo Jung-hee, I had only seen her in Glory and only knew she was beautiful, but through this drama, I realized that besides beauty, she is also a talented actress. Regarding the male lead, honestly, I didn’t know him well and wasn’t a fan. When I realized he was the ML, I was a bit disappointed. But he did his role well, and that’s enough. The other characters each had their own stories—not that they focused on them too much, just briefly—but even that was enough for me to feel that it wasn’t just about the three main characters; the others existed too.
The main songs weren’t particularly memorable, but they weren’t bad either. I didn’t focus on the music, but it didn’t make me dislike the drama.
I generally don’t rewatch series because the story feels repetitive, but if my mind were clear, I would definitely watch this drama from the beginning again. I love how their relationships and friendships develop, their hangouts, their happiness, and their sadness. Like it all.🥹✨
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10000000/10
FIRST OF ALL, shoutout to the casting director because the cast is INSANELY good👏🏻👏🏻 Every single actor and actress fits their role perfectly there’s literally no weak link. I’ve always been into romance dramas, but I SWEAR I’ve never been this hooked before. The story is beautiful, the pacing is perfect, and the editing makes every scene flow naturally.I even forced everyone around me to watch it because it’s THAT good. I already miss them :( Definitely gonna be my go to drama whenever I have nothing to watch.
And don’t even get me started on Youngrye and Jaepil. Every single scene of them together made me scream, giggle, and kick my legs. Their chemistry is unreal. The way they look at each other, the way they speak, even how they breathe while delivering their lines!!! everything feels so genuine and emotional.
I keep rewatching their scenes again and again because they’re just that perfect. I love this drama so much that I honestly can’t even describe it. Huge applause to everyone involved. Truly one of the best romance dramas I’ve ever seen!!!!!
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