MilicaB

So many ppl wrote that the ML was a great actor and FL terrible, and I agree. She cannot act. I saw her in All About my Mother and she is acting there the same way she is acting here.
I watched the side actors and they are all pretty bad. They cannot act It is clear they are pretending.
ML on the other hand can act a wide range and is rather convincing.

The plot as the story is interesting and realistic to some degree. What ruins it is the Hollywoody shocking thing (and unfortunately real thing) of abusing children in evil rituals. That part was .. iffy. ... Although historically and currently that happens in the West (and the east too??) .... well... it was too much and it took away from the drama because it introduced more mess than necessary. It was one of those signature SENSATIONALISTIC Hollywoody tricks and it is just ... distasteful in the end.

Well the topic of using children for evil rituals has to be talked about though. But in a way that doesnt make it just a show but a way that makes it a social commentary on why that is possible and how to prevent it. Not just a big heading in the news with flashy bombastic text and pictures, leading to no change.

So the plot without too much emphasis on the "shocking stuff" would have been ok... .but .... nothing was done with it. There is no character development, or conflicts worked out and resolved. It is just ... mindless show. AND, the overall message is the message of desperation and gloom, or a sugary ending without any explanation and any pointers for how it happened. Just like most Hollywood is. ALl glitz and glamour SHOCKING stuff and supposedly catchy scenes, but no content. WHAT WERE WE SUPPOSED TO LEARN FROM THIS KDRAMA?

How the drama was made, plus the overdone soapy acting, just doesnt cut it for me.

I watched the end episode too

I watched a lot of it with sound low and without much subtitles so I saw the acting really close up. Then I listened to the music - it is sooo over the top soapy and terrible.

Overall, the soap factor here is about 100% and it reminds me of morning 100-episode dramas, just done with a lot more $$$$ spent on costuming and scenery. Total Hollywood. I see that Netflix makes kdramas like that and I really dislike it. I think Netflix is basically killing kdramas as it is making them americanized to sell more of it in the west, but then the kdrama charm is GONE. True Kdramas with their CREATIVITY and MEANINFUL CONTENT and shows about real people from daily life and their struggles and how they overcame them, kdramas with content and without much vulgar or violent scenes, with sophisticated humor and deep insights, kdramas suitable for all kinds of audiences and ages, showing WARMTH of relationships and GROWTH, and FAMILIES, and society, .... etc. well they might die at this rate. I am really concerned.

The only thing that came a little close to real kdramas is the very very very very end scenes, like last minute of the last episode.
I like the very very very end scenes with FL recovered from the trauma and grew from it. She moved into a better life and helps children, being at peace. It is a realistic and meaningful ending. The horror did not destroy her. I wish we got to see HOW she did it. This unexplained "magically happened" happy ending is too much Hollywood and Disney for me. It is too sugary and soapy. What would make the drama worthy is to see HOW she overcame the trauma. And I wish that FL actress acted those end scenes better. It almost got ruined by bad acting.

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In summary: I dont like this kdrama. I think it is a very glorified morning 100-episode SOAP..... and I have watched some of the morning 100-episode soaps and imo they are better than this.

This drama is good for nice historical costuming and scenery. That's about it.