3GGG

Yes, really unfortunate! The extension hurt the drama, IMO, and felt unnecessary given how they wrapped everything up. No reason why they couldn't finish the drama with the original episode count.

Yes, I've only heard good things about that drama! Not sure why I didn't picked it up while it was airing, tbh.

Aw, thank you very much for the heartfelt comment, bmore! I'm glad this article has helped you understand why certain techniques produce different feelings. I've mentioned in my articles that most times you'll unconsciously detect this things even if you're unaware of them! Of course, once you know what to look for, your appreciation and understanding of what the director is trying to convey can only increase. :) It's these types of responses that really makes all the effort and time these articles demand be worth it! <3

Thank you for your comment, bmore!

I actually have those three shows: My Mister, Misty and Sky Castle in my PTWL! I've heard great things about them and I'm looking forward to watching them. I'll probably watch Sky Castle next, since I've been asked to write an article/analysis like the one I did for "Come and Hug Me". And, since it has been approved by the editors of the site, it'll probably be my next project once I wrap up Part 4 of this series!

Good catch on the last question, crystalstars! That's all on me, since I added that probably hours before it got published lol. I've corrected that now, thank you! <3

And I can relate to sometimes getting bored with rom-coms. With some exceptions, I personally look for shows with a story and a side of romance, rather than a romance with a side of story. ;)

That rocky scene was hilarious, lol, and quite unexpected! And yes, probably one of the things I enjoyed the most were those villains vs villains showdowns!

I haven't watched any Thai dramas, so unfortunately I cannot guarantee it wouldn't be like those shows. I can say that it's more like the bodyguard falls in love with her than her in love with him. In fact, Oh Sunny is doing her own thing really, which is the thing I appreciated the most. This woman had her priorities straight, for once!

Oh, I'll definitely checked it out! I'm guessing you enjoyed the alternate ending that was released, then? Since it pretty much gave the Emperor a blank slate to try to win Oh Sunny over again.

I really struggled with determining a good and fair rating for this drama. I kept going back and forth between giving it a 7 and an 8. Prior to the reveal of the "Grand Empress" I had this show at 9. But after that, everything went a little downhill and the last four episodes really felt like a different show. The Empress Dowager's secret was also a bit of a let down (I expected something more blood curling, given her character).

In the end, I decided to settle in the middle with an 8 because, despite the flaws, this was a show I enjoyed. And, at the end of the day, that's really all that matters, right?

You are not alone in wondering what would've happened if CJH had been present for the extension, Patricia. His absence was glaringly obvious for me, sadly.

For me, Na Wang Shik's basic personality is still a "shining knight". That doesn't mean he wasn't hurting like the emperor, but he was still someone who always tried to shield those he loved from harm. We saw this even when he was with Min Yu Ra. He took care of her kid so she wouldn't be overwhelmed. Then we saw this side of him shine again when he dove in to save Oh Sunny from drowning. Then once again when he saved her during her wedding ceremony.

"Here yes, I agree he was a "shining knight" but then so was the emperor when he saved and protected the empress."
Personally, the Emperor felt more like a child trying to keep his source of light from being extinguished. He wanted to protect her more to keep her with him than for her own sake. He was possessive and that translated into overprotectiveness. This became more apparent when he forced a kiss on her, for example.

Na Wang Shik, on the other hand, clearly grew to love Oh Sunny, but he never tried to "possess" her. He always seems to watch her back and he did his best to keep her safe while still allowing her to do what she must.

In the end, the important thing is that both men needed to be different for things to be interesting. And, of course, the character who outdid them both was Oh Sunny! I'm all for interesting, strong, independent and badass female leads!

One thing

"...for example Wang Shik makeover. His nose is completely different, how can someone become that in a month without surgery?"
>I have since given up on nitpicking this because it's so prevalent. I was re-watching "Hello Monster" with a friend recently and I still don't understand why the kid version of the ML wasn't at least given Seo In Guk's super prominent mole! I mean, they could've just painted it in!

"Or as you pointed out Yu Ra scars..."
>My guess is they had initially planned to write her off and then the writer or producers had a change of heart. And, on that note, it's even more unbelievable that Min Yu Ra's ex-boyfriend who was kept caged in a small room got rescued and recovered his sanity like it was nothing, lol. But oh well, sometimes it pays to suspend your disbelief, otherwise, you'll go crazy.

"or even the first attempted murder of Sunny...why at the ceremony, in front of everyone? Isn't that a dumb move? Better get rid of her quietly..."
>This is something that I could expect from someone as unhinged as the Emperor, but it was strange for Min Yu Ra to not advocate for a more "out of sight solution". Unless they wanted the public sentiment to be on their side, which might've happened if she'd died during that broadcast. Then again, I may be giving them too much credit.

"Yu Ra's backstory made me soften a bit towards her, and I kinda root for her to reunite with his lover after they shown him alive."
>Yes! I actually wasn't expecting her to sort of redeem herself as much as she did. And her backstory made her a compelling character. Which stood out because normally (I don't know why) writers tend to be harsher towards their female antagonists (often punishing them more than the male antagonists).

"Also bipolar much this emperor...I didn't find any cuteness in him chasing Sunny because I never forgot his previous actions and to me, he seemed out of character."
>Agreed! I tried my best to be objective in the article when it came to introducing him, just to avoid spoilers and not to offend anyone who liked him (there were many people who were rooting for him, after all), but for me he never redeemed himself. I still think he should've lived to pay for his crimes, even if there weren't as abhorrent as his mom's or Seo Kang Hee's.

Someone actually mentioned in the comment section of the drama that CJH may have had a fight with the writer, which made him walk away (so the scheduling issues may have been simply the "nice" way of saying he's out of there). However, I didn't want to include it in the article because I it's more hearsay than facts. Although I will say this, you are not alone in feeling disappointed with how they handled his character. I would've rated the show lower, if not for Oh Sunny's character and some of the showdown between the antagonists. Plus, some of the visual cues the show incorporated were really good!

Well, you might just wait until the last season is done for Game of Thrones before giving it a try. It is a series with a HIGH budget and it shows! The story is interesting in and of itself, but even if that doesn't appeal to you, the production level alone is worth a look!

If you do decide to watch "The Last Empress", let me know what you think of it. I found it maintained a pretty good pace and only felt the last four episodes drag a bit. Like I mentioned, I think the extension did more harm than good. But overall, it accomplished it's goal: to entertain. :)

Thank you, Momoi. It's not a drama without flaws, but it's entertaining to watch for sure. A big part of my rating has to do with the show boasting a great protagonist, who really contributes to the narrative at all times. If you decide to give it a try, if possible let me know what you think!

I agree, bmore. Like I said, this is a technique that only works when you use it smartly and, most importantly, sporadically. Sometimes directors overuse it to bring dynamism to a shot, but the result can feel amateurish and almost childish. Of course, many use it because it's so cheap to have someone hold the camera and run into the action. I remember that for a while the trend really took off when the 1999 "The Blair Witch Project" hit the box office to GREAT success. But, if it's any consolation, I think most people hate the overuse of the shaky camera.

>Fights
I haven't watched HIGH & LOW but will definitely add it to my extensive PTWL!

"There're different approaches to fight scenes so this would be interesting. We've talked about this before but there are well choreographed scenes that have more or less an aesthetic appeal in my opinion, most common in martial arts style."

I agree. Chinese movies (wuxias) tend to go into artistic fights which are a treat to watch. "Legend of Fu Yao" had some fights that were beautiful (if gravity defying) and very simbolic.

"In "modern combat" or gun fights you can use lots of cuts to increase tension."

See heavy editing is my pet peeve (just like a shaky camera is for you, I presume). Heavy editing is most often the result of a director having a pretty badly choreographed or boring fight yet trying to make it interesting in post-production. The result is usually a mess of fast cuts that leaves the viewer confused as to what's happening. "Resident Evil: The Final Chapter" is one of the BIGGEST offenders I've seen. I got motion sickness just from trying to follow the messy action. It was like someone used an axe on that poor film, editing it into a horrible, horrible mess. I do not recommend this movie unless you're a masochist.

>Healer fight
I tried to find the video, but no luck. If I find it on youtube again, I'll send it to you, so you can understand my disbelief, lol.

I'll give it a shot. If it becomes too long, I'll probably break the article into "bite-sizes", maybe featuring one or two techniques per article. :)

Thank you very much for the support, bmore! Yes, if you have any questions, let me know and I'll do my best to answer them if it’s within my area of expertise! I'm happy you have enjoyed the articles so far! And wow, 700 dramas! I haven't even broken into the 100 dramas yet, let alone movies! Now, movies/dramas worldwide… I'm more of a veteran there, lol.

Thank you very much for the comment, Excalibur! I'm happy you've enjoyed the articles! <3

He's hilarious in this role!

Thank you very much for the support, kingsqueen <3! I'm happy you are enjoying the articles and have started to pick up on the cues! Indeed, now you'll be able to understand exactly what the director is conveying (increasing your appreciation of a drama well-directed)!