Only Watch If You Are A Fan Of The Leads Otherwise You Can Skip It
Story:It is decent to say the best with nothing new or out of the box. The story is quite similar to many other past lover reunion tropes you have seen in many Chinese dramas before.
Pace:
The pacing of the drama is a little draggy as this entire drama could have been done in 16 eps had they not added some unnecessary story arcs.
Characters:
Frankly I found almost every female lead annoying and overbearing other than Duan Yu (Shi Qin) especially the female lead. Each lead character has their own flaws but their growth is shown while FL for most of the drama is still the same she was in the start. Male lead on other hand is a guy who is ready to do anything even screw his dreams if it means to stay with FL while she doesn't want to compromise even the slightest. It is only in the last few eps, you start seeing signs of improvement after she starts to heal from her scars.
Other lead characters especially the third couple has a cute story and makes you want to root for them alot.
Actors:
Each actor did their job fairly well whether it is the leads or side. LYR and XRH have really good chemistry and both suite each other well. Even the antagonists have done a good job in looking annoying.
Overall it is a one time watch. If you are a fan of the cast and past lover tropes, then go ahead and watch it but if you are looking for something much interesting then you can skip it.
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Just a generic rom com dud with mediocre chemistry and not worth your time.
Just another drama added to list of cliche generic duds with nothing new to offer. The leads have little to no chemistry and it's funny that for a drama titled "Dynamite Kiss" they literally had leads kissing like dead fishes. I still wonder why they even for the leads actors and what spark they saw in these two.The latter half of the drama is literally ripped from King The land but only worse plus added that cliche breakup before final episode crap. Even KTL wasn't something new and was generic to say the best but damn the leads had some serious chemistry also a healthy relationship built on trust where both of them chose to deal with issues together instead of breaking up.
The second leads too have almost zero progression when it comes to romance so far and I am sure their plot too will be rushed just to give a happy ending.
I don't even need to waste my time to watch the last 2 eps to know how it will end.
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A good concept ruined by poor storytelling
Drama started so well but went downhill by the last few eps.--This drama could have done so well and shown a mentally broken person with DID healing from past scars but they turned it into a total romantic past lover reunion melodrama bullshit.
--Even Shin Hye Sun's acting and Truck kun won't be able to save this one.
--KJY's character is here to suffer. Major Second Lead Syndrome incoming.
--JHJ's character has no character development and is only there for gag.
--LJW needs to go to acting school.
The leads especially the male lead is a huge miscast. His role needed a guy who can act well with his eyes and even show the subtle emotions well but all we get is a bland and blank LJW who is so crappy with his acting. He was decent is Bulgasal but was horrible in this one. Shin Hye Sun and Kang Ju Yeon did so well with their roles but sadly the story writing was so poor that their amazing acting can't save this drama. SHS always nails her roles no matter the genre and even this time she was phenomenal.
Story writing is the biggest drawback of this drama.
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Annoying leads in a mediocre storyline with nothing new to offer
I had huge hopes from this drama but it turned out to be absolute generic and dud. This is one of those drama where things get sorted out in last 2 eps and till then all you get is an immature, obnoxius and bratty FL and a doormat of a nostalgia clingy ML who just can't take NO for an answer and also not move on. At this point it is not even funny but annoying to see when the two are together. This is one of those dramas where I would rather have the leads not end up together. The chemistry between them is mediocre to say the best, hell FL has better chemistry with 2ML and even their conversations are somewhat decent to watch.The issue with the drama is that things between the leads makes you so frustrated that even when they get together you won't feel any spark or butterflies watching them. It simply bores you and does nothing else.
The cast is good but got screwed by the mediocre and draggy story
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A decent take on a topic like emotional cheating
The drama delves into the topic of emotional cheating mostly from the female lead's point of view. A woman who is going through a rough patch in her married life which only becomes rougher due to her in laws interferences, lack of privacy for the couple and lack of communication with her husband who is himself going through shit. It is actually quite a realistic approach a topic like this and isn't your generic infidelity dramas where the first thing leads do is jump in beds with other people due to misunderstandings.The topic of cheating is quite polarizing and has screwed many good dramas (J dramas mostly) simply because the way they use the trope but here is somewhat of a mature approach to it and you won't really hate the female lead for her actions.
The character development in the drama of both the leads is done really well.
The cast have done a really good job with their roles. Jasper Liu needs no intro when it comes to acting while Ko Chia Yen really did well portraying the role of a woman trying to get through her marriage with issues and temptations everywhere.
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Only a Devil can kill a Monster
A cool Mafia consigliere and a chaotic lawyer team up to take down a huge business cartel run by a vicious and psychotic monster. In the process several secrets are revealed, masks fall off and the true self of many are shown, friends turn into foes and foes into friends.The cast was great and did justice to their characters be it the leads or the bad folks. You really do end up hating their guts till the end. The chemistry between the leads was too good, they didn't need much romantic scenes to show on how much they suited each other.
The story was catchy and engaging with good humor, though there were instances where it felt dragged and unnecessary stuff added to it overall it didn't bore me.
I really liked the soundtrack of the show especially "Adrenaline" and "Always by your side".
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Jeong Seo is the main highlight of this movie.
The action was damn good and Jong seo nailed it. It isn't some extraordinary storyline just a raw revenge story with gore and satisfying ending to all the assholes. The story was fast paced without much drag and after every few minutes someone was dying . I liked it how they just killed off the drug lord in an instant even if he was the main boss of the syndicate without dragging it (he was right in front of her , she shot him........BOOM!! he is dead).Kim Ji hoon as a BDSM addict psychopath did a good job too, you do end up hating him as much as you liked him in MHK.
The only problem I have was the camera cuts in some fights were too shaky and fast. Rest its a good one time watch action movie.
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Starts engaging, muddles in the middle and freefalls in the end with no proper closure for viewers.
LIKED:- Go Youn Jung really pulled off the characters Cha Mu Hee /Do Ra Mi so good. Kim Seon Ho needs no introduction on how good of an actor he is and the way he acts with his eyes is beautiful to watch.
- The chemistry between both of them was exactly how it should have been that is not too intense, raw and passionate but slow and warm with both breaking each other out of their cages.
- Fukushi Sota was fun to watch especially his character being charming at times while other times him being a funny melodrama queen.
- Not going for the generic love triangle trope. Normally you would expect SML to be someone who keeps crossing lines and act all possessive and how badly he wants the FL but the drama did nothing of that sorts and gave us a green flag of a guy who despite being bratty sometimes knows his limits and when to back off. A total gentleman who you would root for his success in life.
- WS and YD's relation arc although fast paced and appeared for quite less time but was still fun to watch.
- The locations were beautiful and matched the vibe of drama. The costumes and dresses too were beautiful to look at.
DISLIKED:
- After looking at the trailer I wasn't expecting something out of the box but the same old generic korean romance drama so my expectations weren't too high to say the best and I am glad I kept it that way. It always baffles me how majority of korean dramas screw things up when it comes to mental health.
- The drama starts fun in start but in the middle of it becomes somewhat dull with generic arcs being pulled that we have seen many times before . The same old leads having trouble confessing, same old breakup for stupid reasons, same old living in agony. Thank god they did well with the love triangle stuff and kept it light.
- The final part of the drama was just TERRIBLE. The way FL's past and family arc is dealt with is just terrible and gives no closure to us as viewers at all. All this could have been done over episodes instead of rushing and shoving everything in the last episode. The generic breakup before leaving because one lead needs to deal with some shit all by themselves and then getting back together in last 5 minutes is just tiresome to watch again and again.
- Out of nowhere adding the twists that FL's parents are alive in the last half an hour was plain stupid. It was unnecessary if they think doing that would have been a good way of giving closure if anything it only makes thing worse.
- It was clearly visible writers had no idea on how to keep a proper pace of things over entire course and conclusion of this drama.
WISHED:
- I would have loved had they gotten together by E8 and then taken time to figure out the FL's past trauma properly with her healing from it slowly over last 4 eps. No need to add all the parents being alive after all these years bullshit in the end but showing her journey towards healing properly from all the pain her family caused, her parents death and her coming to terms with it is what I wanted to see in the last episodes.
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Another Big Budget Disappointment
It is as I expected just a korean version of elite + bullying. None of the characters especially the rich brats be it the FL or SML or others are likeable as each is just selfish.The cast has surely done a decent job with their characters and makes us want to root for some and hate others. Although I would say this is RJE's weakest performance till date.
ML is out for revenge but has gotten wavered by a pathetic FL who only cares to protect SML.
Fl's character is a total damsel in distress who all she does is cry and beg. I really didn't like her character at all. A cold ice queen type who slowly opens up to ML or SML about her inner pain surely would have been better instead of a FL who is a weak crybaby from the start but anyhow this is how the show makers wanted it. RJE was a total miscast for this role and has zero chemistry with any of the leads and was bland the entire time with her acting.
SML is an A grade trash who deserves to be sent to prison. Dude is ruthless with no remorse for his actions. I am glad he doesn't get ML's forgiveness till the end.
Frankly Both SML and FL deserve each other as both were pathetic. One enjoys bullying other students while the other one only watches it and not once tried to stop it and then both acted all guilty and how sad they felt for ML's brother death. Not even once did any of these two tried to stop it, had they done it he would be alive.
The bullying shown in this drama is something I have seen many time before in Kdramas and is quite prevalent in South Korea's schools and colleges.
The show's story screams how much it is influenced by spanish drama "Elite". All the bullying, sex, drugs, filthy rich morons and their brats, parties, pregnancy ..... just reminded me of it. The only good thing about the drama is the production value and nothing more.
It is another disappointment after "The Impossible Heir" although the acting is good in this one.
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If you are a fan of Gong Chan then go for it otherwise you can ignore it
A cliche love triangle....well more like a love pentagon mini series with nothing new or out of the box. The two good points of the drama are that things are dragged and there is cute chemistry between the leads. The cast has done good for their parts. Nothing much to write about the show, if have nothing else to watch and want to binge watch a mini romantic show in less time, then you can go for it.Was this review helpful to you?
A wholesome sometimes chaotic drama that shows the values of having family and friends
A good wholesome heartwarming story that shows you can withstand everything when your family is by your side.A girl who loses everything in an instant unwillingly goes back to her hometown and slowly gains back her confidence and rises up again to face the world. In the process old scars are healed, broken relationships are fixed, the love that was once lost blooms up again.
Shin Hye Sun nails it again just like she has done in every drama she has starred in. Be it portraying a strong and ambitious photographer Eun Hye or the girl behind that strong persona who is just trying to run away from her painful past. She manages to show all the emotions spot on.
Ji Chang Wook is one hell of a versatile actor. From portraying a monstrous grey character in "The Worst Of Evil" to the sweet yet chaotic guy next door in this show, he shines brightly. Him as Yong Pil is one big green flag of a guy who is always there for his loved ones and is ready to sacrifice anytime for their happiness.
The chemistry between the leads as two childhood sweethearts turned ex is amazing. Be it their childish banter or making up for regrets, everything is done beautifully. It isn't just the leads but also the side characters that make it even more fun to watch. Each and every character is placed well in the story and are quite enjoyable to watch.
The show has plenty of cute, funny, chaotic, emotional and uplifting moments making it a really good watch and worth your time.
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Tried mixing Romance with Sci-fi only to screw up in both
It's not just about LMH but also about the drama itself. Removing the space and research part, the story is mediocre and characters are frustrating. There is little chemistry between not just the leads but even with second leads it just looks forced plus this love quadruple just makes it worse.This drama could have even done without adding romance to it and keeping it mostly about all the other things that are going on in characters lives be it their goals or secrets. Also instead of making it 16 eps simply keep it upto 12eps. It would have made it more engaging and enjoyable to watch. Look how good "The Trauma Code" did with its engaging storyline.
Actors like LMH, GHJ, HJE are decent enough to get the job done but simply miscast together when it comes to romance genre. For an amazing actor like Oh Jung Se, this drama and his role simply don't do justice to his acting abilities.
The drama makers wanted to mix both the sci-fi and romance genre together but ended up screwing up in both.
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Same cliche trope again and again with nothing new
So ML liked FL who liked SML. He ended up with an unrequited love and she ended up dating SML but had a painful breakup and now years later they all meet again.Have seen this plot plenty of times in many Chinese and Korean dramas before.
FL is still hurt over breakup, SML will try to get back with her, ML will try to be with her and help her get over SML. In the end ML/FL will end up together..........End of Story
No wonder this drama has only 8 eps and will be over in 4 weeks since there is nothing much to add to it. Other than 1 or 2 moments where things go different than expected, overall it is simply mid.
The only things saving this drama is the cute chemistry between leads otherwise it is generic.
( Kim So Hyun needs to choose better scripts and not the same cliche trope again and again)
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A cute cliche love story between a cupid and a human.
The story is just another fluffy romance and won't bring anything new that hasn't been seen before and will end the same way too. There is a past life trope and some serial killer stuff added to make it somewhat interesting. The cast be it the leads or side characters have done well.Jang Dong Yoon as a handsome cupid was a very good choice as he has the looks and charms to portray one. ML's nature is quite the opposite of FL and their combo is fun to watch.
I would say the most annoying character in the show has to be the SML. Dude is a cop who is given the task to catch a serial killer but spends most of the time trying to separate the leads. He is extremely nosy, delusional and irritating. Be it breaking into ML's house to get info about his past or asking FL to stay away from ML, he has done everything that makes you hate him and question how could this dude be a cop. He gets on your nerves even more than the serial killer.
The chemistry between the leads is good. It isn't too strong or sensual but more like calm and sweet. I was skeptical when Nana was casted as just before this show I saw "The Masked Girl" and Nana was on fire in that one as her role of one scarred, crazy and fiery woman. So going from that to her role, I wasn't sure if she will be able to pull off one sweet simple girl role in this show but she sure did justice to her character. He character is cringey and idiotic sometimes but that is countered and overpowered by her straight forwardness and stay true to heart nature. Since the first ep, she goes openly for ML and isn't even slightly wavered by anyone else which I really enjoyed.
It is a good show, more like a one time watch which sometimes get draggy but still enjoyable.
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Sometimes Humans are more dangerous than the Monsters
No Spoilers:They certainly pushed the story, action and thrill up a notch as compared to S1 followed by a lot of heartbreaks and pain.
No one knows who will make it till the end and chances are your beloved characters might just die or have a fate worse than that.
S2 proved that Humans and its greed can be far more dangerous, inhumane and ruthless than those monsters.
The acting was phenomenal, as they did manage to show all the emotions and decisions that a human can make in those drastic situations. I would say i ended up hating the humans in the show even more as compared to the blood thirsty monsters.
Both the budget and production value has increased and it shows in the series too. Eagerly waiting for S3 and the final showdown.
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