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Woah.
Everything about this from start to finish was amazing. The cinematography, the acting, the story. You can really tell that every little detail was carefully crafted, the amount of symbolic messaging that I picked up on was crazy! Maybe it's because I haven't watched a lot of kdramas but I seriously have never seen one that pays so much to detail. The topic of abuse is so heavy and sensitive that I was terrified that they'd misrepresent it somehow but they really went above and beyond my expectations. 10/10, would recommend.Was this review helpful to you?
Wouldn’t rewatch it
The plot is great.In my opinion this subject about domestic violence/abuse should be mentioned more in dramas. It’s a situation that’s silent to often, like s€ual assault.
During watching the serie it was Hard to maintain my attention. It’s a good story, but it somehow it missed something to catch my full attention.
What I also didn’t understand is why the in-laws were so delusional and supportive of the abuse.
It made my skin crawl.
The actors and actresses did a good job. Nothing wrong with their acting.
Wouldn’t watch a second time.
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EVERY STORY DESERVES TO BE TOLD!!!
Every story deserves to be told. Every problem deserves to be seen and understood because that’s how we enlighten people about what’s really happening. Yes, domestic abuse is a serious issue, but that doesn’t mean we should stop sharing these stories. Too many people still feel like they’re suffering alone. The more we speak up, the more we remind them: you’re not the only one, and you’re not invisible.Drama review:
Everyone delivered seriously, I loved every bit of it!! That scene where the officer snatched the cap off that clueless detective head so the press could get a clear shot of her face? Iconic. We need more stories like this. Domestic violence survivors deserve to know they’re not alone. Sometimes, all it takes is one brave person or one decisive moment to change everything. Keep speaking up. Keep walking forward.
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Got me at the beginning
Sometimes narrative like this mirrors someone’s personal experience. It’s raw and very difficult to unsee it because women do go through this. Painful memories are relived and although family members can see through the pain, they look the other way. I just wished everyone has someone who’s willing to help. There’s light at the end of the tunnel.Was this review helpful to you?
A tough watch but too powerful to look away
This drama was really hard to watch, not because it wasn’t good, but because it hit every nerve. I found myself getting angry at almost every scene, which just shows how powerfully it was written and acted. The emotions felt raw and painfully real.The cast delivered incredible performances, bringing out every bit of frustration, guilt, and tension the story demanded. It’s not an easy watch, but it’s one of those dramas that stays with you long after it’s over.
Beautifully acted, emotionally heavy, and deeply human. I wouldn’t call it enjoyable, but I’d definitely call it unforgettable.
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Gripping Thriller
This was an extreme case of domestic abuse. Two women, best friends. who, in spite of being close, carried deep secrets from each other. One harboured guilt for looking away from her mother's abuse perpetrated by her father and the other, enduring years of domestic violence from her husband. It is very concerning when two supposed to be best friends can't share their innermost secrets because together they could have educated themselves, found ways and legal means to stop the perpetrators instead of resorting to crime. Korea has laws to prevent domestic violence but sadly for the victims, patriarchal attitudes are still very strong and considered as just a "family matter," Families would rather keep silent for fear of the stigma it carries in society where they are shunned and blamed.At the end of the drama, it would have been a great service if the two actresses did a public service announcement providing information to domestic abuse victims on how to stop the violence committed against them. Most victims are probably not aware that there are ways they could take to protect themselves.
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A harrowing but ultimately hopeful tale about domestic violence and its ripple effects
I've been eagerly anticipating this for a while now and it did not disappoint. Lee Yoo-Mi is incredible in this - her portrayal of Hui-Su's pain and resilience is one I will remember for a long time. Jeon So Nee also delivers an incredibly grounded performance and her character is an important reminder of the effects that domestic violence can have on an entire family. Jang Seung Jo really shows his range here as both the abusive husband and the undocumented worker and as Jin-Pyo, he is absolutely terrifying the way he turns from violent to caring on a dime. Lee Moo-Saeng rounds out the core cast as the enigmatic bystander who becomes increasingly drawn into the lives of the two women and like Jeon So Nee, his performance is similarly grounded and empathetic.The story itself has twists and turns but what is most memorable about this show is the way it treats the topic of domestic violence with so much care and empathy. While there are scenes of violence in the show, it never feels gratuitous and I really appreciate that we are shown enough to truly understand the brutality of Hui-Su's life without focusing solely on the violence. There's an important scene early on that really sets the stage for the tone of this show where Eun-Su asks Hui-Su why she never tried to leave and Hui-Su asks Eun-Su how she knows that she never tried, and I love the choice to include this scene because this is so often the first question survivors of domestic violence are asked. Hui-Su's response is so important because we see that she did try - multiple times, in fact - to leave. She tried to flee the country but was forced to return home when Jin-Pyo threatened her mother and she tried to file a police report but was scared off by his sister. I really love that the show reminded us that it's not always as simple as just leaving, and that even when people do try to leave, they're not always successful. Above all else, this show centers its focus on the survivors - not just Hui-Su, but also Eun-Su's mother and even Eun-Su herself as a survivor who grew up in an abusive household even if she herself was not physically abused.
The show also highlights that survivors of domestic violence have to endure not just the violence itself but the complicity of others who see what is happening but stay silent, and thus, allow it to keep happening. Even in this aspect, the show makes an effort to show the different levels of complicity. On one end of the spectrum, there is Eun-Su's complicity as a means of survival - she stays silent about her mother's abuse in an effort to protect her brother and keep her family together, and she initially stays silent about her wealthy customer's abuse in order to maintain her job. On the other end, there is Jin-Young and her mother's complicity as a means of maintaining appearances - they are not just complicit, they are also hypocrites who are aware of Jin-Pyo's abuse of Hui-Su but choose to ignore it for the sake of promotions and appearances while outwardly proclaiming to care about survivors. While I do like the message that silence is complicity, I don't particularly love the way the show kind of glosses over Jin-Pyo's crimes as the actual perpetrator to focus on his sister and mother in law as the villains in the second half. I get what the show was trying to do, but I do think it undercuts its own message a little bit by making Jin-Pyo die before he could face any legal consequences or serve prison time while his sister and mother had the very public fall from grace. Don't get me wrong, they got what was coming to them and I'm glad for it, but I just think it was kind of a weird choice to make a show about a man abusing his wife and then have the main villains be women. In this respect, the show is almost too realistic because we do see this a lot in our society as well, where a man commits a crime or behaves badly and then the news will oftentimes focus on the women in his life and ask them to explain his behavior or question why they didn't stop him.
As a American, I am typically immune to most copaganda but I have to give a special shoutout to Detective Choi Gyeong-Gu. I was cheering when he was leading Jin-Young into the police station and then purposefully ripped off her hat so that the angry mob could see her face clearly. KING SHIT!! The only good cop! Choi Gyong-Gu, you will always be famous!!!!
Ultimately, this is a show in two parts - the first 5 episodes focus on the direct survivors of abuse while the remaining 3 episodes focus on the bystanders who witness what is happening but choose to ignore it. While the last 3 episodes are a bit heavy on the makjang side for my personal taste, the ending more than makes up for it. The courtroom scene is especially moving because we are reminded that the law does not always deliver justice, that what is legal is not always what is right, but that there can be healing and growth in taking responsibility for your actions and atoning for them. I like that the show never makes light of the women's actions in murdering Jin-Pyo but also clearly demonstrates how everything lead them to the point where that was the only possible action for them to take. And that final shot of Hui-Su and Eun-Su standing side by side was just perfect. While there were many who stood by and did nothing, it was these two women who stood by each other's side through it all, and it was because they had each other that they were both able to survive and break the cycle of abuse.
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sad but mid
first few episodes were excellent. the portayal of domestic abuse is pretty explicit and shocking, but it was necessary for the plot. i enjoyed the planning of his murder and his actual death very much. just what he deserved.but, the rest of the story is literal hot garbage lol wdym this random doppelganger is a psychopath??? actually, why did we even go the doppelganger path??? i thought he was like a long lost brother or something but he's genuinely a complete stranger and that's just ridiculous. his character made no sense. the sister in law character is despicable and had absolutely no redeeming qualities but i guess it just runs in the family. i think i might have actually enjoyed this more if this was a story of overcoming the fear and escaping him to then serve revenge rather than a murder plot because people can't just murder their abusers and find doppelgangers to try and get away with it... so. they literally had the random rich gangster character right there. they could have used him to form that plotline. but, murder!!! wow!!!
also holy shit the scene where his dead body appears in the rain with his eyes wide open is pure nightmare fuel, actually got a scare out of me
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Good Watch, But Didn't Blow Me Away
This drama was actually a nice surprise! The main story was really engaging, even though those violent scenes were kind of rough to get through sometimes.My main issue was the pacing. Even though the show only has eight episodes, it felt super drawn out at times. I kept checking the clock, waiting for the episode to wrap up! The main idea behind the show was solid, but something just felt a bit bland in the way they delivered it, and I never totally got lost in the story.
The absolute highlight of the whole series was definitely the friendship between the central trio. Their bond was fantastic, and it really carried all the emotional weight—I just wish they had explored their relationship and bond more instead of wasting time on unnecessary plot. Plus, Jin So Baek was my favorite character—they were a definite bright spot! So Nee's incredible transformation for the role was absolutely mesmerizing. We also have to praise Seung Jo; the difference between his two characters was amazing, and he played both roles brilliantly. I was also really happy with the satisfying ending, where everyone got what they deserved.
Overall, it's a competent show and a good watch, but honestly, it didn't leave a huge impression on me.
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You stood by and it was like spring
As you stood by - A review (spoiler alert)Hello hello dramawatchiesss! Let’s go again on a tour of my drama review. This time we will decipher ‘As you stood by’. It really stood with me. I enjoyed the drama till the brim. From the frost shingles at start to the rising buttercup at end, everything worked out for me. It had so much to induce and portrayed it well. I HEAVILY loved the actings of respective FLs and all other cast. It showed deprivation of one in a manner that would boil one’s blood. The no mercy looks of antagonists were so strong and stern, I found myself throwing stuff. It was heck of a drama. One clash after another, one clatter after the another. Let’s dwell deeper, I’ll discuss character,acting and all basic information (brief) first and things which caught my eye then.
(Rating at last of the basic information)
Actings
> A good hand to acting, the villains showcased ferocity and victims showed vulnerability and despair. Villains made me kick stuff, which is indeed a sign of great skill and victims made me sob. Would’ve liked if they had used side characters more well than just dropping them in middle and popping them.
Plot
> There, for me, wasn’t much a plot it was everything in hand that had to be handled. Just turns and consequences were a variable but could be guessed by few equations. It would’ve been a 10/10 if the story didn’t eliminated the husband that early. Cause he really needed to feel the pain he made her go through. You could have no justification for domestic abuse. It is same as killing. I would’ve also liked if they included the Male protagonist more than they did, supporting him with more backstory and volume. He could’ve been a strong character. But I still accept the this point of story which gave the leads a more epistemological conclusion. She felt free and alive early.
Message, theme and Tone
> The drama delivered what it promised and atoned what it said. Abuse isn’t a thing to be indifferent too, it’s the major issue even in modern times. As said up, you cannot have any verdict for abusing anyone. The theme stayed intense yet calm, close ended het ambiguous and cold yet still warm. The setting and temperature alteration of colour gravities the tone. The contrasting tone and congruity tone, this alignment was sharp. “Antonym of love isn’t hate but indifference and neglect”, said Husbands mother in a domestic violence conference. Irony or mockery? It ain’t good to endure violence neither good to ignore, it’s the first step of internal strife and emotional poverty. “If you cross by a victim of violence, just give them a hug and say it’s not your fault” said the same mocked lady. The theme fluttered a little at end as it jumped from realism to semi-fiction.
Cons
- If they used husband more and made him go through agony
- Used side character more deeply
- Used a lot of items from thrillers corruption to abusive marriage, slush funds etc, could have cut down one or two
- I felt Huisu missing at end episodes
- Sang Kang had gravity but no depth. No proper story of his side. Time issue maybe
My rating stays at 8.5
White not purity, but blindness
Red not love, but blood
> If you closely look, the drama has a high note of white and then red aftermath. White curtains, white waves, white dresses, white interior, and frost. Red as blood, beet juice, ferocity, abuse marks, his eyes etc. These all first show white as a blinding power and then using red to show the consequence. The white curtain which gave Eun-Su a stimuli generalisation contradicts the common meaning associated with white, peace. And her going to give her life by ocean’s white foamy waves. These all seem to juxtapose their common calm, serene meanings. Red beet juice, the first time Hui-su made it the intensity of the red tone was low but in succession it was more red and blood like. Which were noting but a mirror to her physical condition (how badly she was abused). When they finally kill her husband, again she had a white gown showing her stern pale strength which was sparkling in blood of fake love. I really liked this scene, it meditated a revenge vibe with remorse. Eun-su at white belt also showcased her not being able to reconcile with that past and ignorant behaviour. But when she finally grabbed blue of hope, it had good repercussions. There’s more but finally, the white bed sheet where Hui-su dazzles with all abuse, agony and bloodshed.
Introductions Of blue Frost: Story within a story
> This would be the most noticeable thing in the drama with enough gravity to enlighten. It said a lot about what’s gonna happen in next hour. Was it the typography or the animation, I am not sure, but it made me heavily interested. From ep 1 to 8, from the first shingle of frost flake to the last shingle of it on the first bud of the buttercup ( I hope it was a yellow buttercup). It went in a cadence, a simple snow shower-bride,dressed all white almost in symphony of background-a happy newly wed, all show reality covered under the rime- A blood full crack, a new opening, a new beginning- two free white doves in sky, both FLs reliving their lives which were dabbed under indifferent sleet- a cross at grave, signifying that still the reality of them killing wanders beneath the sky in which they float- A cigarette thrown at grave, might indicate it being now naked to world, uncovered- and finally a small yellow buttercup over grave, symbolising upcoming spring, peace and joy after the chilly winter. Also, let’s not forget the blue tone behind, neutralising the situation a little and providing hope.
Ep. 2 Hui-Su
> The main highlight of the whole series for me is ep 2. This episode is an epitome of physical, mental and psychological annihilation. All red shed and white drapes. The execution didn’t went any lenient in showcasing the abuse and violence. Kudos. This episode had a lot to intake. Firstly, image 2 in the given image list shows the big of a contradiction. The husband used to beat her by garmenting the room, playing music suppressing her inner cries, as the abuse intensifies the music goes bold which more and more suffocates her. And then, this scene comes he gives her a black bouquet of red roses which says love attired in misery and fatality. The camera is placed such which disguises and makes it look that how loving would the couple be, the frame behind testifies it. But, all show and fabrication. Whereas in the coming scene, you’ll see (no image as it had some censor stuff) she’s laid on a bed all scarred and then he is boxed behind getting all naked, suggesting his pure and true form the beast. And her lying in front is an evidence which completes the whole box. And then she sees a black tiny spider, indicating dark sides of love and despair. Then again, other day when he goes to office, camera is placed in an antithetical position that makes them look like a lovely and attractive couple. With frames and kiss. Her despair is finally boxed and the situation becomes even and true. Then also let’s not forget the painting she did in her box suffocating, dark room which but gives peace and safety. This episode was IMPECCABLY delivered by the actress and actor. Hands down…
Cinematography and Visual Poetry
> Cinematography was really well, realistic and pragmatic. It wasn’t rapid but went calm with the vibes. It don’t made me feel I was being rushed, which I feel in most thriller movies and dramas. The shots, subtle boxing and if I am not wrong a few Dutch angles tend to make a good depth. It felt that the camera also empathising with victim and consoling her. It escalated the situation and didn’t showed any difference in highlighting the raw and painful nature of violence. It swayed like a wave. I adored the part when they were coming back after burying her husband the sky shots of nature , forest,road and ocean were all nicely absorbed. There were minute shots which could’ve been a littttle better but it’s fine! I am no professional, to say ittt!
The end, circle completion, every meaning goes common
> The buttercup in prison where Huisu was indicated her mother watching over her even after going away. It indicated the spring has now arrived. Mother’s yellow hug has bloomed. Hui and Eun both went to their life in Vietnam where they did the basic things and were actually living. Ignoring and being captive in a cupboard to abuse is nothing less than a crime, said Hui. But now they were there under bright skies, accounting everything, echoes heard out and life in hands. The ocean got its calm back, the white got its peace. And they got their life. “I’ll now how to face it, I’ll know how to stand”, said them standing together in white by ocean. Reconciled and pasturing. Really well done. It was written well and showcased sophisticatedly. “Whatever wave tomorrow brings or whatever tomorrow the wave brings, I’ll face it.” It’s like a new wave emerged and rippled throughout.
Conclusion and yes or a no?
The drama diligently, persistently and rawly showcases abuse not as a common happening but an issue of societal conscience. It shall not be normalised. Abusing is synonymous to murdering someone. You kill the person in murder but kill the soul in abuse. The drama sharply hooks us with the issue and makes violence hiding in shadow of one. It’s like frost, freezing one’s blood and time. Which even spring can’t melt. One gets all covered in the dusk and wildness of it, by which it’s really hard to recover. It’s a BIG YES YEA to watch it. It’s not perfect but delivers the message the serves it right. It’s high time to shove this issue in our intellect. It is as an ode to those women and to each person who unfairly suffers abuse and violence in the cement and mud walls. Please make sure not to miss it.
**the full review is based on my interpretation and mind, please avoid causing any issues whatsoever.**
I hope you enjoyed reading till here. Thank you very much for staying till here. My hearts to you. Please let me know your thoughts below and let me also know how was it? Or anything you noticed. Enjoy reading and happy watching dramawatchiessss!!! Stay tuned for next review! Always up for discussion!!! ✨💫
(Also make sure to check out my Reddit, link in bio)
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Inflicts hurt as much as it heals
As You Stood By has many good components to it.- Primarily, the relationship between Eun-su and Hui-su (and of course, Mr. Jin). This relationship serves as both the stakes and the breather, in its dual nature, greatly contributing to the show.
- It also explores all sides of domestic violence, of everything that contributes to such a case, in an appropriate manner.
- Every character is strong in the sense of their personality and values, making them all distinct from one another.
- The entire cast did great with acting!
- The music did a great job for its respective scenes.
As for the flawed components, at times I felt like the writing was too spontaneous, so I couldn't suspend disbelief. Certain characters did actions that did not contribute to the story (or the dialogue was awkward), and the ending felt rushed and weak.
In conclusion, don't expect perfection, but it is enjoyable. Although some might call it slow, I thought the pacing was sufficient, but that might be different from person to person. Either way, I do recommend everyone to watch this and have their own thoughts on it.
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