MilicaB

Funny, warm, scary and educational and almost ruined by the draggy script

I loved this kdrama. So bubbly and fun. Very comical and also rather profound. It is a good thing I lasted towards the end while the script writer almost killed this kdrama by repeating the same "plot". The ending saved it, luckily.

This kdrama is about concepts that are not going to thrill empty-minded audience.
Ep 1 is a heavy hitter, addressing social injustice and social change, as both ML and FL are rebels and change makers. Then the kdrama gets into rom com and Koran history and food and psychological thriller. I find it really interesting and fun. Yeah it is a time travel trope but with twists :)

I find the acting excellent. Especially the villain and the FL and also the ML. Villain was a perfect villain, it is hard to find a villain actor this good. FL was great greasy snide, and ML was a great bubbly positive character, all shiney. He was so clean and shiney and FL was so greasy yet they lived in the same house :) He was ALL SPARKLEY sunshine.

It is so hard to find a FL who can truly act, and be a complex character, like this one. That actress is amazing and really gives a deep complex flavor to this character. FL is insecure, scared, desperate, but also tough, rebel, striving, so she is sarcacstic, angry, greedy, warm, caring, and steadily moving on, IN HONESTY. Until she gets stuck on the villain bc she kisses as# of authority and she trusts the "nice rich guy" blindly. Unfortunately, the script writer never made her grow up, so watching her DUMB and BRAINLESS to the very end was painful.
AFTER WATCHING this actress in Divorce Insurance, I think she cannot act any role but snide sarcasm.

The sarcastic insecure hungry scared urban rat FL is a perfect match for the bubbly, overly confident ML, who is a perfect OBLIVIOUS entitled male character, socially inept, cannot read the room, has ZERO ability or interests for politics and games. He is smart and was lucky to be born rich so he has NO doubt in his mind that the world is a good place and he can just do whatever he wants - and he wants to do nice things and social change, he is a naive VISIONARY and HEALER. He heals people by his warmth and honesty. The good part about him is that he is like SUNSHINE, he is a bubble of sheer light, positive energy and wisdom. Well except for recognizing the villain LOL

I think the ML actor is very good and the role of the bubbly peppy guy matches so well next to the gloomy FL, who is not pretty, dolled up nor energetic at all. no clothes, no flirting, nothing to look at, ... so the two of them just complimented so well and are very comical. ML is all clean and pretty and energetic and happy and grateful and polite and generous and nourishing, so he makes up a positive energy bubble that allows her to stand by him in some drab kitchen clothes, looking very unkept, and spewing funny sarcastic doubtful hopeless comments.

THAT WAS OK UNTIL HALF OF THE SHOW. But then ML and FL kept being dumb and trusting the villain blindly, and that was too much. The script writer almost killed this lovely kdrama. FL should have taken a shower, washed her face and hair, and wore some nicer clothes after work. She should have stopped calling Heo "Mr Homeless" even in public. She was so rude crude ungrateful!!! just bc he wasnt rich and famous ..... FL should have grown up a lot more then just asking the detective to tell her why he is there.

Now the Villain. I dont enjoy watching him bc he is too good of a villain and reminds me of people from real life LOL. That actor was superb as a villain (until the last episodes, when he lost the sliminess and cold cruelty under a polite look). Wow so real.
The villain character is an exemplary SOCIOPATH, read "The Empathy Trap" article online. https://www.recoveryplusjournal.com/2017/10/the-empathy-trap/

The Chef is a master sociopath. He is soooo scary!!!!!!!!! Scarier than any monster out there. He is so smooth, PLEASANT, SEEMINGLY CARING, and obviously SUCCESSFUL and IMPORTANT, handsome, rich, well connected, political, cunning, imposing to people, and lying and cheating and backstabbing and killing and destroying people... since Joseaon. HE IS EVIL AND SLIMEY AND LOOKING NICE. He is truly scary That actor really conveys it well. I love and hate watching him bc he is sooooo good in acting that villain.... One value of this kdrama is to watch the Villain to see what kind of facial gestures, body language, look in the eye, are signs of a camouflaged monster.

Honestly, this actor was so good as the villain that I find this Villain a LOT MORE SCARY than any Godzilla zombies etc out there. He is so scary because he is real. People like that are all around us. They are soooo hard to detect because they are such skilled liars.

The script is good bc it shows moments that are good to see to get the message. Like the Villain beating the horse or talking about no social change. Or the moment when ML looked at her hand and then left to buy groceries :) that moment was short but so sweet and revealing, so critical.

BUT the script writer dragged it too long. We never got to see how ML and FL changed. The villain probably will never change. But we need to see how ML and FL fight him, sooner than the very last episode!!!!

FL and ML are Visionaries and social changers, and their fault is that both are too childish and naive. They were fortunate to be able to stay naive... FL had her mother to protect her, and ML was a rich noble man... BUT NOW... the diner might close unless they grow up and get it together. and finally register that there are bad people out there right in front of their noses and they gotta take care of themselves.

ML AND FL WERE SHELTERED ALL THEIR LIVES AND DO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT BAD PPL ARE OUT THERE DOING BAD STUFF

FL grew up enough to ask tough questions, but one smooth lie from the Villain and she is back under his spell, she is so insecure about her looks and social status that she gets sooo smitten when someone so cool pays any attention to her and then she trusts him blindly. Tsk tsk... FL is a smart chick so this character flow gotta be taken care of!

AND IT WAS NOT. That was suffocating. I am sure many ppl dropped out from watching. I read the comments, by ep 6 ppl were dropping out bc yeah it was too much of watching two dumb fools fall for the same thing over and over and over and over and over and over again.... !!!! and it lasted till episode 9!!!!

At about half of the show, we needed to see how ML and FL grew up a little bit and kept growing up. But it never came. So they are not really worthy of being the main characters n the story if they are not going to change......

FL did not really grow up at all except to recognize the villain.
ML has not grown up except to realize the villain. He ignored his feelings of red flags, his memories, etc. In his world. evil just does not exist. He was NAIVE . At least he recognized the villain but did not change in any other ways, he still spoke up and caused his own death.
THe villain hasnt changed at all either. He is still trying to elbow forward by any means. The smaller villains as well.

So we get to see the entire Josean gang AGAIN doing the same things in the modern day bc they havent cleaned up their karma.

THIS DRAMA HAS KARMA, has magical entities. and time travel. THe lessons about karma are amazing. ML and the villain "practiced" their emotional weaknesses since Joseon and probably before,.... Since they practiced so long and so hard, all their bad habits are so well ingrained. THey are just BLIND.... ML is a naive smart good guy and Villain is a well-camouflaged monster.

So ... recognize yourself in all of them. THe naive good guy, the insecure girl, the smooth talking liar Chef..... the vane and damaged MaChong....

The entire drama is about real life. Real stuff happening to you and me. Yeah including karma and magical entities LOL

10 episodes is waaay too short though :) If you want to drag showing off how the villain controls ML and FL...... and then you need time to finish it off properly..... Ep 6 had so much going on, the plot went sooo much faster, ... bc THE VILLAIN IS TAKING ACTION and the diner might die off. But unfortunately the script writer did not show how ML and FL grew and overcame... until ... episode 9 for ML and Episode 10 for FL. That could be ok in a 16 episode drama, but not in a 10 episode drama....

So the ending was positive but rushed and somewhat fake, everything resolved in a POOF! of magic ... and that is not how the real life works :) We need to see how ML and FL matured a little bit at least.

This kdrama should have been 12 or 16 episodes kdrama, if the script writer needed 9 episodes to start showing growth of the characters. Then the ending could be proper, we would get to see what Heo does when he leaves the diner and we get to meet the guy who walks in at the last scene. Also, the script writer should have given some time to the FL to grow up too. And it would be funny to see what happened with the Chef. Sociopaths do not really change unless it is some major miracle

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Mature love

FL and ML are adults, mature and responsible people and so they know what is important and they make it happen.
They communicate, they do not hold back, hide. deny, pretend or play games.

This kdrama is very educational, you get to see how grownups live.

And I think this is for more mature audience. There is no drama in his kdrama :) The drama is about two people who do not waste time. When they are confused, they sit down and think about it and then take action to clarify it with the other and to move on in a positive way. NO DRAMA HERE.

so you get to see the plot that is not soapy nor boring but is about solving daily life for real. Extremely useful.

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Warm, positive, functional, educational

A very very nice kdrama. The story is real, the people are real, acting is good, so you get sucked into the story. This is a long drama with many many characters and stories so that is why it is slower and more complex than 16 episodes series.
===> You really get to see the characters struggle and grow

Bc it is a family drama with so many different people, ages, stories, and interactions, it is incredibly interesting. There are 5 love stories going on in parallel, plus exes, babies, etc.
You get to see disfunctional relationships versus functional relationships :) Bad communication, no communication, and good communication... different styles...

I like the positive vibe of this kdrama

It helps that the main ML and FL are down-to-earth people with common sense and brave enough to speak their mind, take action when necessary, be gentle and respectful about it and communicate well.

It is helpful that FL is not an abused / helpless clutz / loser but a capable and warm, brave woman trying to make her late husband's dreams come true and at the same time save herself from the grief of his death and successfully run her late husband's business. She has goals and she makes it happen. Running that business was healing for her.

This is NOT an "anio!!!!" drama with idiotic (mis)communication, hiding, cheating, and psychotic losers. There are villains and drama queens and questionable women, but this is not a drama with car chases, kidnapping, shootings, hot steam, etc.

This kdrama is about "normal" people with 'normal" range of issues, like .. getting out from under your parent's tight hand, dating your professor, leaving babies behind, trying to destroy competition with bad business moves, selling kids off to marriage, fighting to save a business in debt, falling in love later in life, surviving in the entertainment industry, etc.

How it is solved and resolved is interesting to watch. How different people come together to make a goal happen. How they saved their tiny brewery together.

Some of the best love scenes are between the two people who lost their spouses (ML and FL), you get to see high school love at the age of 50, and it is so cute. If you can watch ep 23 with ML and FL in the hospital, that is one of the most charming things, how an older reserved male opens his heart and turns into a high school boy but even better :) he is calmer and warmer than a young boy, and a lot more considerate and appreciative.
He is THE BEST good boy charmer out there, really. He courts her so well. He is honest, undercover, steady and very clever to always be there and be nice and ENJOY her company but never come onto her, bc she is not ready yet, she recently lost her husband, so he is catching her into his net without she even realizing. He is very very genuine and vulnerable and naive on one hand but on the other hand, a very shrewd adult male who knows where he is going with this. He is careful to protect himself yet advancing very fast to go get her. A great hunter and scout :) He is a very endearing character and that actor portrays him so well.

I and many others wish that it was subbed faster. We have to wait a whole day for eng sub.

The OST music is not really something I would remember :) After I wrote this I was humming the main song "when will I learn life" or whatever that is, and yeah, that is a catchy song and actually can be a very popular song. OK I give 9 on music. THe rest of the music is not really noticeable too much, It gives nice effects with actions and it is rather discrete, whcih I think is APPROPRIATE for this kdrama. So .. absence of flashy music is ok. I do think a little bit more ... well... I dontknow which word to use... zappy? emotional? stronger? passionate? alive? vibrant? music would be good.
Iron Family had such catchy main song but Iron Family kdrama had more comical and drama and thriller elements so that music fit perfectly for it. This drama is more even keel so this mellow music is ok, it FITS.
This kdrama has nice "background" music that matches the acting, but it is nothing special. But yeah that is the feel of this drama, regular life without too much spiking.

There are younger and older people in the drama. There is only one elder and she is a dame LOL There is one baby. There are business people, "idols" :) etc There are cold hearted corporate styles and the immature dancer and everything in between. So I think many people will find someone of their age and their interest in this kdrama and will find it interesting.

I like the filming close up of their faces. There are many comical moments. There are some tough moments, but never disgusting tough, only tough... THere are some sad moments but there is also that feel of overcoming and moving on and being nice about it.

It is like ... put your slippers on, relax, and watch the story

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Fun and educational

I love this kdrama. It was really fun and really educational. Acting was great, EXCEPT by the FL, she wasnt all that great. Also, her character was not written too well. She was very nice with the kid etc but in her life she was a total coward and never made any decision rationally. Weak character. She was lucky her condo didnt sell.

The divorce lawyer and the Friend nearby and her sister from NYC took the attention with better acting.
Some of the funniest scenes are yaksuri (shaman)

Some of the funniest scenes is how the Lawyer is filmed sideways as he chews his lunch and overhears the conversation between FL and predator
etc

The reality of the scenes, e.g the sister exercising with some tape

The Friend Nearby was so fun, such a great actress... HOW she said "yaksuri!!!"
and her kids and husband.. the remote viewer on the robot LOL

SMALL DETAILS LIKE THAT make it real, make you remember them

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Starts fluffy and shallow but it ends as a deep, warm, mature love and relationship

The first episodes made me think this was just a fluffy rom-com for youngsters full of hormones. Like sneaking up on him to see his naked back with a tattoo etc. I was like ... omg I think Neflix is ruining kdramas.... ok.... I will just sleep through this... I was using the drama to destress from some ugly legal stuff, so my expectations werent high... The drama has an upbeat vibe bc ML and FL are very rational, adult, responsible characters although they are in their 30s so I watched because I was benefiting from that positive vibe. I am also a fan of the ML actor bc of Twinkling Watermallon, and FL is not a loser, she is highly capable, so I kept watching...

So at the very start, ML and FL were fighting against their own feelings in ways that were ... well... boring :) But ... there was no needless drama. ! I liked that. ML and FL are smart people and did not waste time and very quickly realized they liked each other and went along with it. They are smart and know it is necessary to hold onto your dream to make it happen. They are go-getters. That was fun to watch but still not quite it.

Then they had to resolve a conflict based on their animosity and hatred for each from the past. That was not quite fun to watch either but was getting more interesting. THEN the drama very sneakily took the turn to raise the curtain and for us the audience to watch behind the scenes and see MORE, and to see how it all fits together perfectly.

SUDDENLY we got to see the strength and the depth of ML and FL as individuals and as two lovers committed to each other. That was really impressive.

So everything that looked fluffy and over-the-top exaggerated and shallow, suddenly became a piece in a very nice looking overall picture. The two of them MATCHED with their personality and traits and ways of doing things, and were there for each other. THEY COMMUNICATED CLEARLY. They were committed.

So this drama ends on a note that is deeply satisfying, a very warm, solid, reliable relationship, human and humane note, and a lifelong love in a very positive, solid, reliable, sophisticated, mature way. By the end of the kdrama, ML and FL demonstrated HOW you can achieve it. Both were bossy and perfectionists, and both understood the deeper requirements of human condition and relationships, and both took steps to make it happen. They had arguments and fallouts and always cleared it out and came back together ON THEIR OWN. THis kdrama is not about them meeting by chance somewhere or friends rehooking them. EVerything good that happened in their relationship, happened bc ML and FL were mature enough to think it through , self observe, self correct, and step forward towards the other to fix the mess they caused. IT was very inspiring and positive.

THe underlying story is about accepting ourselves and living our life as we are, creating good karma, and about having loving clear productive family and personal relationships.

So that message that it is possible to pull it off if you try, properly :) and clearly, and bravely, was the message that was so powerful and so warm and educational. I started watching this bc there was nothing else to watch on Mon/Tue/Wed and it was boring at first but by the end, I felt good about watching it. IT LEFT A WARM FEELING IN MY HEART. It showed what is possible if you try properly.

Imo the key was the FL character. She was no-nonsense and relatively mature enough to see what was important, and to ACT on the important stuff before it was too late.

For me the breaking point was when the FL was talking to the evil Grandma and told her that this was not about who is the successor but is about the family of her love, how to keep his family.

As for the ML, his character is complex but the script did not leave room to show him as a complex person. The filmmaker made ML role so flat, always stiff, pompous and kinda grumpy and poker faced, so that really did not show even 0.5% of the actor's ability and made ML boring to watch. Some of his funnest scenes in this kdrama is when he gets kicked out and cooks, etc. I think the drama had to show him more in his HUMAN state, not just cheabol-idol-perfect-successor fake ACTING state. The drama forgot to mention how the ML character acted tough for his cheabol job and how different he was in his normal life. Not at concerts but when he was cooking, etc.

I saw the ML actor in "Twinkling Watermellon" one of the best scenes is when he communicates with the guitar player at the start of their first concert. Also, in My Dearest Nemesis, he had just a few moments where it seems like he ran wild and did not listen to whoever was filming him, and showed some of his fun, flirty, romantic, and charming side.
SO he can act a wide range and for some reason some bozos always put him in rough dumb flat shallow roles. Like Weak Hero Class 1.

I guess filmmakers are scared to lose money so they put an actor in a role he already did well at least once before. Like putting Meg Ryan ONLY in romantic comedies.... But that really messes up the filming and drama. It is boring. I cant even distinguish between Meg Ryan's films, they are all the same thing.

You need to milk the actors for all they got.

Well I understand you have to make money off dramas too so perhaps it is easier to recycle actors in the types of roles they already did...especially if the actor is not capable of acting anything else LOL there are those.... !!!!
But it is better to let the actor show more acting. Imo.

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Masterpiece with underlying desperation

This movie is a masterpiece. It talks about really deep issues in a "fun" way with lots of great costuming, stellar acting and engaging story. The only bad part is that the show is so vivid but the underlying message is depressing - "it is not possible to fight oppression if you are too low on the totem pole." Yes that is true and also it is not :) That is a whole new review LOL In just a few words: each one of us has karma, and we gotta resolve it. Looking into this movie, there were other possible options for the two characters to live a happier life, but they PERSISTED in going in the wrong direction. That is their karma. Personally, I think it would be better to sneak into King's palace and get the fem Clown out and then go hide in the mountains :) Or leave the fem Clown there but go out and organize an uprising to get him out. Or get out and start meditating and become a saint in honor of the fem Clown .... etc etc etc But that's my solution. The Clowns did not think of it. So .. their karma... I just dislike thinking that the only solution is to feel bad and bear it. I think even when we bear it, we are supposed to feel peace and it SHOULD FEEL LIKE THE RIGHT THING. I think the two Clowns just egged each other down the deep end. The fem Clown had to follow the macho Clown suicidal attempt, and macho Clown did not think of better solutions to bail out the fem Clown. For example macho Clown should have written in front of king to prove that ANYONE can copy fem Clown writing. If macho Clown could do it then someone else could do it and King certainly was aware of nasty people who frame others.... It was worth trying. But macho Clown did not want to risk it.

The movie is about so many deep issues... at this point in time, I see these issues:
how artists are poor and limited and at the mercy of those who pay them, to the point of abuse, exploitation and even sexual abuse,
the DESPERATION it produces, as fem Clown was forced into prostitution and he willingly went for it to not cause trouble
how it is easy to make a popular, great performance by putting in sex and poop jokes... everyone finds that funny ... so it is used in so much "art"
how art can be used for healing trauma, for telling stories, for communicating, for political and social change, as ART IS POWERFUL CATALYST
how that is forbidden as the society does not care for change, so it supresses art (the nobleman and courtesans and grandma did not like the shows LOL)
How the potent messages have to be hidden in the art to avoid retaliation, so you hide profound messages behind sex and poop jokes etc
how artists will decide to risk their life to do creative pieces which "they cannot do anywhere else" as fem Clown decided to stay in the dangerous palace to do one new art show,
how mistakes cannot be taken back - later the fem Clown could not leave the palace anymore and it was certain death AND he pulled his soulmate Clown into torture and death, he is directly responsible. And instead of fixing it somehow in a productive way, he just committed suicide with him. And the macho Clown, instead of somehow breaking in to free the fem Clown, he boldly went in to get killed. DUMB FOOLS. LOSERS,
OVERALL, the issue of exploited and abused poor and their desperation at their condition and their lack of effort to get out of it. ===>>>THIS IS THE WORST AND VERY EVIL TEACHING OF THIS KMOVIE. I really dislike this. The filmmaker makes only such movies, of great calamities that have no solution.
OVERALL the issue of the entitled and nasty rich, who do WHATEVER they want and retaliate if exposed. and are nasty to the point of murder, rape, prostitution and pervesion
the trauma of abused children who then grow up crazy
the trap of rich and famous and being catered to and thus becoming weak and losing one's mind - the king was a porn abuser and mentally off to the point of being a murderer
the nasty politics and as$ kissing and murders as ppl compete to be rich and famous - the prostitute swindling the king with pervert porn tricks
and yeah love between males and how that is not socially accepted - the two Clowns were definitely "married" and the king felt lust and some trace of love for the fem Clown who was a rather "pure soul"
the weakness of characters who have too much protection - the fem Clown was so meek and "pure" bc the macho Clown just took care of him, so fem Clown never grew and was basically a child in adult body

And personally, I think the costuming, the dances, the performances are STELLAR, sex and poop jokes and all, this was so creative and educational!!!!! And the acting of every single actor is 1000% STELLAR.

Lee Joon Gi's best acting imo is in this movie. He is a PERFECT woman. The manerism, the hips, the voice, ... and he is pretty :) Such a beautiful round full soft face. I kept analyzing WHY. Because I saw him first in Flower of Evil and Lawless Layer kdramas and honestly, I thought he was really ugly!!!! he looks like an elf!!!! with big floppy ears and a triangular chin that made him look like an alien, and very stiff "macho man" body and movement and yeah all those fights.
He is a little better looking in Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo bc he has long hair that hides his floppy ears and triangular face, and some pretty bows in long hair that distract attention.
In King and Clown, his face looked very full and round and soft, with a square jaw!!!! and ... thick meat on his face... I cannot explain it... he looks skinny faced in his later dramas... .... and I was wondering if he got plastic surgery after to get rid of strong jaw he shows here???? And his dancing here was stellar, he is very flexible. Also, all his roles after this movie are all thrillers, where he is a macho he man who fights and kills and is cold faced and cruel and has women, and even there are moments where he shoos away any guys who say they like him, like the son of the father he got out of prison in Again my Life. So seems like LJG worked really hard to get rid of the fem image.... ??

This is surely a gay drama, it is a triangle between two clowns and the king. The macho Clown is surely in love with the fem Clown and vice versa, otherwise they would not be doing such great things for each other to the point of individual suicide and joint suicide! and daily hugging and sleeping so close next to each other. The gay romance is hidden from the audience, just hinted at, for example the two of them sleeping so close in the corner next to each other and He puttinig a blanket on She, we did not need to see any more details than that... since it would be distracting from the movie's main topics.

The movie focused on what a **loving relationship** is. But I think the movie does not really show it. There is not enough communication and growth between the two Clowns. They are very ordinary people who feel deeply for each other but do not know WHAT TO DO WITH IT.
The king felt lust and some immature "affection" but as soon as it wasnt to his liking, he was going to kill his "love". So from his example we know what love is NOT.
The relationship between the two Clowns teaches us more about love, but not everything. It was very soulmate-like deep and solid relationship and definitely beyond just friendship, but it was not a totally functional relationship. The movie just did not want to focus on the fact that it was two MEN in love (and all the details of bed time etc that goes with it) and distract the audience from the bigger issues that are addressed in the movie.

The only way that these two were not lovers is if they were somehow relatives etc, or if they feared to look gay, or if the macho Clown did not want to evoke memories in fem Clown of being raped for money. But I doubt these were the reasons. In any case, their relationship was waaay beyond "good friendship". They were dedicated to each other to literally death.

But the movie DID make sure to emphasize and "prove" that two men can be in very deep life-long love. So in some ways the movie is promoting lgbt+ or at least gay males love.

And the movie shows the exploitation of gay males is the same as the exploitation of straight women, the "rape" and "prostitution" is a common concept for both, just like it is for anyone who doesnt have the skills and desire to FIGHT.

King surely mounted the fem Clown. The king's clothes were all dishelved. The fem Clown had nowhere to go, his life was at stake AND his troupe and lover's life were at stake. He had to say yes, and he was used to being prostituted. He had to do it so many times before, that's how the movie started. We never saw the fem Clown tell the macho Clown though. Bc that part was not important for the message of the movie. We know that the Macho Clown KNEW.

Also, the macho Clown is not put down as a "lesser man" bc he loves another man. THe macho Clown is a very confident and strong and smart person and we get to like him. And the fem Clown is very gentle and meek and obedient so we get to sympathize with him two. And the two of them communicate. How they agreed to leave after the Fem said they just do one more show and then leave. How they stood for each other. How they fought, how they won the fights. The fem Clown got violent when he was going to be left. They were a great example of a successfully married couple.

So yeah this movie advocates for gay people as "humans" like everyone else.

Also, the movie made sure not to alienate us and kept it "fun" and did not show the very end, only hinted by the fan flying away. Both Clowns must have died on that rope, as nobles hated them and surely killed them on that day. Hopefully. Hopefully they didnt torture them. But at least we know Clowns got happy in Heaven and will come back as Clowns.

And also we are SURE that the two Clowns loved each other so deeply to the point that they could not live one without the other. So the scene of fem Clown getting up on the rope knowing he will be killed and asking the macho Clown how they shall reincarnate .... was a planted scene to show deep deep love and also to advocate gay love as deep and to gain "good points" socially for gay love.

The bigger issues addressed in this movie are REALLY BIG ISSUES about what art is, society, politics, identity, free speech, corruption, rich vs poor, love, dedication, communication, integrity, fight for freedom, social injusctice and class system, hatred towards gay, corruption, entitlement, etc. TONS OF REALLY HEAVY STUFF. And as a real jester, all that was couched in sex and poop jokes and great costuming and dancing :) so it was easier to take in :)

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Overly fluffy, slapstic rom-com that ends up as a mature marriage

About t first half of the episodes made me think this was just a fluffy slapstick rom-com for youngsters full of hormones. The ML and FL are in their 30s but they behave like middle school at best. Initially, ML and FL are REALLY immature, wounded, confused, they do not know how they feel or what they want. They are on automatic pilot, totally oblivious to their inner workings and confused when they feel something that they think they shouldn't. They cannot communicate. So the first half was so boring to watch...... The acting wasnt great either and the story was often ... well... shallow.
Also, the second pair, the friend and brother, imo were cheesy and boring. I felt like I was watching some cheap Hollywood movie. Yeah I am sorry to say that. I do not watch Hollywood movies and I watch 99% kdramas. So when I first started watching this one, the only thing I could think of was that Netflix was KILLING the kdrama concept and value. I kept watching bc I had to destress from some heavy dark ugly legal stuff and the overall vibe of this kdrama is positive and upbeat, there are really nice small-town relationships, nice nature, and the characters were actively trying to accomplish something and were overall happy and upbeat healthy people, so I was benefiting from that and kept watching.

It was a pleasant surprise that the last several episodes made it very meaningful because ML and FL started communicating and ended up as a pair of true lovebirds, a real marriage, a real love relationship of understanding, communcation and cooperation. THEY GREW UP enough to pull it off. and showed a very nice yin-yang blend of feminine and masculine attributes. I was impressed.

The pairing was a hot angry loud drunkard loser who suffered a lot from others, and a robotic greedy cold corporate dude. I didnt quite appreciate their acting. His was more real than hers. Both are good looking and the drama had a positive upbeat vibe, so bad acting wasnt detrimental LOL I remember her bc she is so pretty and vivid, animated. He is pretty too but his role was so flat and grumpy, too simple, so imo he did not shine as much as he could have. He is a good actor, how he acted admitting her he harmed her, etc is very memorable acting, so real. Sp show him off more. He doesnt have to be a shallow handsome cold person in a suit for most of the drama...

The drama started with very simple and rather crude humor and slapstick ... we have two people pulled in by hormones and trying to hide it....... and then the plot is about them trying to fight it, outwit each other, harm each other, etc. THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PLOT.

and then ... it totally changed... when he started showing his deeper side and she spoke up. I think the turning point is when he helps her to handle the rain blowing the greenhouse covers.

Then the real turning point was when she came out and admitted how she felt.... the scene in the freezer where she TEACHES HIM how to handle her and what she wants, where she EXPLAINS to him how she feels and what she needs. She taught him emotional intelligence and TOLD HIM how to treat her. AND HE RESPONDED and did treat her properly, even better than she asked for. HE UNDERSTOOD HER. He spoke back to her and it was clear he understood. Bc she explained herself to him. To his credit, he followed up on it.

So they became a perfect pair, their shortcomings suddenly were perfect matching pieces. His RATIONAL COLD LOGICAL approach suddenly was 100% appropriate because it enabled her to say all the emotions and then he could respond rationally and calm her down and then two of them together would "go" places, like the scene in his bed.

So that level of maturity was impressive. Also, from the point of the story, it was totally impressive how they matched. His cold rational skills became a stable foundation of his total dedication to her, where he rationally, with care and protection, was able to speak to her, to relate to her, and to treat her with utmost TLC, giving her exactly what she needed and helping her to feel safe and loved.
And she, as overly emotional and coarsely rude, showed her finest emotional ability to EXPLAIN in words to him what is going on and how he should react to it in the best way to her, and led them to a land of a real relationship. He accepted it, that is his contribution. THEY WERE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE, in words and in action and in energy.

The scene in the frezer and the scene in his bed are STELLAR 100% wonderful relationship communication.

I think the most comical scene is when they re-hooked up and he comes out in the black robe and rationally answers questions to the guy evicting him. Or how he related to her when she came to his bed.

So everything that looked fluffy and over-the-top exaggerated and shallow, gradually built to become a piece in a very nice looking overall picture. The two of them MATCHED with their personality and traits and ways of doing things, and were there for each other. THEY COMMUNICATED CLEARLY. And it was fun to see their own particular flavor of communication.

So this drama ends on a note that is deeply satisfying, a very warm, solid, reliable relationship, a marriage, human and humane note, and a lifelong love in a very positive, solid, reliable, sophisticated, mature way. By the end of the kdrama, ML and FL demonstrated HOW you can achieve it. Both were closed and scared human beings, ................. and EVENTUALLY bc of their love, both understood the deeper requirements of human condition and relationships, and both took steps to make it happen. They had arguments and fallouts and always cleared it out and came back together ON THEIR OWN. THis kdrama is not about them meeting by chance somewhere or friends rehooking them. EVerything good that happened in their relationship, happened bc ML and FL were mature enough to think it through , self observe, self correct, and step forward towards the other to fix the mess they caused. IT was very inspiring and positive.

The two of them end on the note of a very solid marriage. I dont think he was happy to be a landlord though, so I can see him getting a more corporate job soon :)

THe underlying story is about accepting ourselves and living our life as we are, creating good karma, and about having loving clear productive family and personal relationships.

So that message that it is possible to pull it off if you try, properly :) and clearly, and bravely, was the message that was so powerful and so warm and educational. I started watching this bc there was nothing else to watch and it was boring at first but by the end, I felt good about watching it. IT LEFT A WARM FEELING IN MY HEART. It showed what is possible if you try properly.

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A nice story about a nice guy next door who happens to be gay

I am straight so I am writing from that perspective, as an outsider observing something new, in this case, the lgbt+ AUDIENCE here, ppl who totally shocked me with their vile comments about this drama. Wow. They want a steamy fast thing in a 100% gay world. Sorry. That's not REAL life and real art. Dont gay ppl have friends who are not gay???? To be honest, I think the grumpy audience are asking for trashy porn. Yeah criticize me but that it the essence of what they are asking for.
I LOVE THIS KDRAMA BC IT IS REAL. IT IS ABOUT MATURING, LOVE, BEING WHO YOU ARE, BEING HONEST, HAVING DREAMS AND GOALS AND MAKING THEM HAPPEN, PUTTING EFFORT INTO YOUR LIFE TO BE HAPPY AND DO WHAT YOU LOVE TO DO. And life is not gay or straight, it is **** diverse **** and underneath, everyone is the same. I will quote another reviewer here who in one sentence, said what this kdrama is about - "Far from being just another of the hundreds of LGBT+-themed productions that are increasingly appearing on television channels and digital media, 'Heesu in Class 2' surprises with a complexity and attention to detail that transcends its genre, with its fresh and emotional take on what it means to find one's own path in the midst of adolescence. "
YEAH and this same recipe holds for ANY stage in life.

The entire plot can be moved on to any age and situation. The fact that the 2 main characters are gay is just one aspect of who they are. But gay or straight, everyone has the same issues of finding their own path and being true to themselves.
Being lgbt+ is a bit more tricky bc ppl can throw stones at you out of disgust, but ... anyone poor, ugly, etc.. gets similar treatment :) For example, any one of those school kids who were bullied... Think of "The Glory" and then tell me, why would a lgbt+ person bitch about mistreatment as if they are the only one being mistreated?

But anyways - I think this drama has perfect pacing and great acting and shows life as it is. ANd it is slow bc it takes time to fall in love, to accept being a gay teenager, to be brave to tell someone you like them, etc. etc etc.

HEE SU GOT SMARTER TOWARDS THE END AND HE TOLD CHUN :) I am waiting to see Chun's reaction.

I loooooove the straight character Summer, she is soooo wise and mature and a wonderful person. I love the friendship between her and SW

. THe first thing that shocked me is that the lgbt+ viewers complained that this is not a BL drama but a straight drama, that there was no relationship development between Hee Su and Seong Won and that Chun and Ji took too much time. IT WAS SHOCKING TO READ THAT. So what is the idea of "relationship" that these people have??? just jumping into kissing right away.... ??? I didnt realize how immature and greedy this audience was.... They wanted to see dates of Hee Su and SW. They didnt want any straight couples. It pissed them off that the original manga wasn't followed and Chun had a girlfriend instead of being gay. They quoted me Love in Big City as an example of a good BL kdrama. I havent watched that yet, I just saw the cover images, it was lots of sexual contact and nudity there, so I was put off by that. And it is not necessary here. Hee Su is 18 years old *kid*. Yeah technically he could make babies but emotionally, he is still a child. Also, even when he makes his sexual debut, he wont be a promiscuous or overzealous individual. He will be a healthy boy next door. I think that is the value of Hee Su's character, he is a decent PERSON who just happens to have a certain preference. His sexual preference is not something he picked. His CHARACTER is something he works for.

To me this kdrama is more about character and generic issues of love in general and people in general rather than some hot steamy BL encounters. And that is why I like this kdrama. I think the actor who does Hee Su is great in his role and Chun and SW and Ji too. They are really acting in realistic ways and the kdrama feels real.

To me, the value of this kdrama is showing a mix, a diversity of people who get along well. I think the potential of this kdrama is to make the lgbt+ ppl more socially acceptable. Hee Su is a really nice kid. All characters are. They are vulnerable, open, honest as much as they muster, often brave, or scared, and making steps forward.

Well except Hee Su. He was brave enough to hang out witih Chun but he was so stagnated there, never making a move forward, ignoring his own inner preferences, scared of societal and Chun's rejection.
THEN WE HAVE SW who openly confeses to his friend Ji, and she doesnt judge him, it was normal, his friend was in love with someone and that someone happened to be male too. That was not a big deal. The big deal is that SW turned out not to be a recluse.

So to me, the value of this kdrama is to show that love is love and people are people.

The value of the straight couple is that it pushed HeeSu into CHANGE. HS was stuck slaving away to adore Chun, and he was a coward. He did NOT plan to confess... he did not plan to make a move... he was scared, he was deeply closeted, and he cheated to keep the status quo. SO NO LOVE WAS POSSIBLE. IN FACT, IT WAS NOT LOVE.
Also SW does not love Hee Su yet. SW is lying to him and praying on him, not saying what his intentions are and who he is. He is a ... stalker LOL it is like having a pet that later turns out to want to eat you. It is unfair to lie to someone and get close to them just for the sake of pouncing on them.
And Hee Su is not ready. He is deeply in the closet, he is using SW for his own self serving interest to keep Chun...

SO ... Hee Su and SW have some growing up to do first before they can date...

is my opinion.

I see plenty of relationship development with Hee Su and SW. At first Hee Su was 100% about Chun and SW was just a little noise. Then SW said hi, asked HS to come to the club, talked to him, waited to go to school, went out to intercept LOL, went out to that coffee shop, ..... ...

The value of the straight couple is that we see that Chun was inspired by honesty of the girl. Chun was bored with stagnation and made a move to GROW.
Hee Su's childish admiration in lying was not inspiring.
Once Chun decided to explore new paths and GROW, HS got forced to do new things, and to meet SW.

Life is like that. Gay and straight realms mix and match in real life. Ppl are one or the other or mix and match. I think the value of this kdrama is to SEE HOW MUCH EASIER it would be for everyone to say up front what they prefer. Most of plots and comedy and hurt of this drama are due to confusion that happened because of hiding and lying adn misunderstandings.

So, from my point of view. I would find it boring and artificial to watch just 2-4 gay gays on dates. I think life is diverse and I think Chun having a girlfriend makes it more interesting, because Chun kinda behaved gay but then the girl inspired him/

And on the personal note: my interaction here was educational. Since I am aware that lgbt+ ppl can experience a heavy harassment, I naively expected that they will be more aware about human condition and deeper finer meanings of life.

I was blamed here as a stupid person because all straight ppl are stupid and dont understand. Unfortunately, the lgbt+ community isnt aware that aids and social prejudice are rampant for straight people too :) Check out syphillis and AIDS and opiates and drugs billboards all over LA, San Fran or NYC.... Every 3rd american has genital herpes... and straight people too fight for social status and acceptance... All women anywhere are a major target of harassment... Any minorities, Natives, brown skin, immigrants, disabled, elderly, .... experience MAJOR MAJOR harassment and societal prejudice. **MAJOR** And of course, the planet Earth itself, so abused. And poor people anywhere. Poor people are actually majority LOL but they are abused more than any minority...

So... if you want some better karma, be nice to others and support other minorities. Which I haven't seen. I have seen only elbowing forward from this group. And it paid off. There are many rich and famous and popular public figures who are lgbt+.

In the usa, so many lgbt+ people are rich and/or famous, they are all over entertainment industry, and all over the public arena, have good jobs, etc, and many vote in very conservative ways and exploit others. Just google "rich and famous lgbt in the USA" and you see links with lists of politicians, billionaires, stars, etc .
I personally have met several sharks who were gay. Not nice at all.

The bottom line is: IT DOESNT MATTER WHAT GROUP YOU BELONG TO.
The only thing that matters is WHAT YOU ARE ON THE INSIDE.
The bottom line is: *****EITHER YOU ARE A JERK OR A NICE PERSON ***** and that is determined on what is INSIDE YOU, your character
JERKS AND GOOD PEOPLE ARE ANYWHERE

if you are straught, you are not automatically evil and dumb, and if you are lgbt+ you are not automatically saintly angelic wise person

SO LET US NOT BLAME ANYTHING ON ANYTHING. if you arent happy, maybe it is not bc of your sexual orientation but bc of your CHARACTER. Wake up and take action. Yeah straight people can be super mean and harmful to lgbt+ but please realize:

****** ANYONE CAN BE MEAN TO ANYONE FOR ANY REASON ****** ppl love to find SOME reason to be mean. So, if you are in some mean environment, then MOVE. Go live in San Francisco, LA or NYC or another big city that provides support. Or somehow change your local environment. If you are a nice person and a hard worker, you WILL find a way to thrive. So do it.

and if you complain that straight people are not nice to lgbt+ ppl, then why be mean to straight people and do EXACTLY what you complain about... ?

I think this is 21st century and it is time to do to others as we wish others do to us. It just makes sense and is a LOT easier, at least in the long run.

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A jester movie. Often slapstic funny but overall deep social commentary

There were only 4 episodes so far.
This kdrama is definitely influenced by Hollywood and ... hm... I think Netflix is killing kdramas. The Hollywoody traits include that fast supposedly smart and witty conversation that just keeps rolling too fast (and the subtitles flash so fast, you can't read them), and exaggerated body language.

On the plus side, there are some pretty deep messages in this kdrama. Divorce *is* a disaster and it *can* be prevented with all those actions they mention in the drama.
This is a jester kdrama. It talks about some really deep stuff by using slapstic humor.
Acting is ... well... not always realistic but more exaggerated... to create that jester feel. I understand why it is done that way but I don't enjoy seeing it :)

I love the funny twists on the classic kdrama tropes like tripping over to fall onto each other LOL that was so comical, that whole scene of the hood watching... There are many slapsticky scenes like that.
There are also many surprising scenes that take you into DEPTH, suddenly, by surprise. It starts as a fluffy nothing and ends up as a very deep human scene. Like... knitting scene - IF YOU THINK I AM LAUGHING AT YOU, YOU ARE INSECURE. Being easily offended is inferiority complex. Or the scene in the video game store where he tells her to give him 24 business hours notice and she agrees. Or the scene where the nun says that people cave in to societal pressure and give up their dreams bc they are aftaid of being criticized... Or scene where they say that marriage and divorce are both measures taken for self happiness... The AI testing and the questions are sooooo .... wickedly accurate LOL
His exes are definitely wild cards :) Never expected those LOL
It is nice to see the twists, the first ex is so rational but her rationality makes rational decisions that are good decisions since she is impartial.. and so the stereotype of rationality is broken. Although seems like she will soon be a villain.

So yeah, this kdrama can be watched on any level you want. You can focus on slapstic comedy and the antics of the teamleader (I saw him as a gay manager in Strong Bon Sun so I am impressed with his comedian skills), or you can watch it as a rom com, or as a crash course in insurance LOL or a deep social commentary, or a crash course in marriage and divorce, or whatever.
In any case, the kdrama explores the epidemics of divorces in Korea and how that shatters the fabric of the traditional culture and society and where it could lead

One of the team members is in Heo's diner. Overthere she is an excellent actress and makes that kdrama totally real and shiney and amazing bc she is soo good in being conflicted, sarcastic, gloomy, and only secretly affectionate. Here... her acting is hm... not really.
It is fun to see the gloomy and flat and boring Grim Reaper show some spunk and life. LOL

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AMAZING kdrama, I predict this to become a classic. It is done "old school way" it is extremely creative and well filmed,n like those iconic kdramas that we love to rewatch and remember, The plot is great, the script is great, the acting is great, the characters are great, the costuming and music are great. It is a memorable piece of art.
Because it shows life in a great way - there is love warmth and grace and fun and also grief sadness danger all at the same time and somehow the characters navigate it to the best of their ability. It is an AMAZING kdrama. it is very RICH IN CHARACTER, you can really see the characters.

I cannot give the spoilers because it is impossible. I just say that the music matches the action in a very very comical way. That the lead male character is a comical guy and the main female character is yeah blind but also extremely powerful and graceful. And beautiful. I love her black hair and eyes. So all those unexpected twists are amazing and really fun to watch. I do improv comedy and this drama reminds me of that. It is totally unexpected even when it is expected. The scene of 2 of them walking with that IV tower is sooo comical... there are lots and lots of comical moments.

i love that this kdrama has amazing DIALOGUES and "self thinking" so we really get to see what characters are like... that really makes it for a rich experience.
BC MOST OF THOSE DIALOGUES AND THOUGHTS ARE HONEST so we get to see the process

The only thing I will say is that all kdramas use the came plot - there is some woman who cannot help herself and then some dude bails her out. Most if not all kdramas are about women who are irrational and get in trouble and need saving by some guy, who melts his cold heart because of her. I DO hope this kdrama will NOT do that.

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