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Fantastic Drama
After a long time, one kdrama without boring episodes. Engaging chemistry between the leads. Started watching this drama mainly for the male lead, totally in love with the series. Can not wait for the upcoming episodes. This one will definitely be one of the best kdrama of all the time. Addicted to this drama.After a long time, one kdrama without boring episodes. Engaging chemistry between the leads. Started watching this drama mainly for the male lead, totally in love with the series. Can not wait for the upcoming episodes. This one will definitely be one of the best kdrama of all the time. Addicted to this drama.
Personal Rating:
Story: 10
Acting & Cast: 10
Music: 10
Cinematography: 10
Overall: 100/100
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Light hearted fun
This is a hidden gem if you're looking for something cute and sweet. The story is not that original, but the two leads have a very fun and cute chemistry. It's fun to watch them interact on screen even if they are bickering at one another. I also like that fact this drama isn't overloaded with too much. There's family and inheritance drama, but it's not over the top. There's no unnecessary elements like a mysterious kidnapping or long lost brother or sister. This rom-com is lean and mean and it stays focused on the good stuff, which is the relationship between the ML and FL. Highly recommended.Personal Rating:
Story: 10
Acting & Cast: 9.5
Music: 9.5
Cinematography: 9.5
Overall: 100/100
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Brilliant!
Doctor Stranger is a beautiful Kdrama! It includes many brilliant elements like music, script, directing, casting, acting, plot, ideas, and story, cinematography, and production.The directing of scenes could not be better, especially the medical scenes. Jin Hyuk and Hong Jong-chan chose good settings and places for shooting and had good presentations of characters and dialogue. Their effort is shown in the casting and the performance of each actor. There was not a single shot I would consider a misfit. It was so well that one finds himself engaged with the whole plotline rather than just the romantic elements, which is so rare in most K-dramas.
One could see the investment put forward by the production team in the cinematography, the places chosen to film in, the costumes, the visuals, and even the graphics.
The script brilliantly conveyed the plot and the storyline, presented an in-depth reflection of each character, and maintained a consistent level of engagement throughout all the episodes.
Kim Jang Woo did a good job composing the music. It is the best K-drama music I have heard until now. The instruments used in each piece match the gist of each scene it was played in its background.
The drama discusses important themes like loyalty, love, integrity, virtue, humanity, commitment, childhood, environment, and aspects of politics, psychology, history, sociology, medicine, enonomics and etc. By the end of the show, you would find yourself responding to the work by simply remembering it as you go out into the world and live life.
Doctor Stranger is not just a good piece of entertainment but also a source for character and mindset building; it helps shape the person you become if you invest the time to watch and interpret it carefully and critically. Well done and thank you to all those who participanted in bringing this work to life and to the big screen. I am grateful!
Personal Rating:
Story: 10
Acting & Cast: 10
Music: 10
Cinematography: 9.5
Overall: 100/100
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Heartwarming and Different
My Demon starts as a stylish and quite different series. The two leads are both independent and confident and really have little time for each other, resulting in some fun sparring. As the series progresses, their character and their story play out showing the fate that binds them. The story is a very moral one and is full of twists and turns, with a surprising ending.The cast are the absolute stars of the show with Kim Yoo Jung and Song Kang playing their hearts out with some very real chemistry (which will have you reaching for your phone to see if they're an item in real life). The supporting cast are really great too with a special nod to Kim Hae Sook as Madam Ju.
The cinematography and musical score are the icing on the cake. Very stylish and very well done.
Personal Rating:
Story: 10
Acting and Cast: 9.8
Music: 9.9
Cinematography: 9.7
Overall: 98/100
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Great series
As a student, Choi Eun-seol (Shin Se-kyung) is a witness to her parent's murder. The killer, who turns out to be the infamous "Barcode serial killer" attempts to kill Eun-seol who gets away but is hit by a car during her escape. The accident leaves Eun-seol in a coma with little hope of waking up or recovery. The same tie Eun-seol is admitted, Choi Moo-gak (Park Yoo-chun) goes to the hospital to see his young sister who had been in a minor traffic accident. Moo-gak is shocked and devastated to find his young sister lifeless in the hospital bed with her throat slit. Miraculously, about a half year later, Eun-seol emerges from the coma. There are three things that are different about her when she wakes up 1. One of her eyes has turned green 2. She cannot remember anything 3. She is able to visually see smells with her green eye. Moo-gak was so devastated by his sister's death that he was unable to sleep or eat and winds up fainting and being close to death for a period of 10 days, and wakes up to find he has lost his sense of pain, smell and taste. After his sister's death, Moo-gak became a police officer and aspired to be a detective. Eun-sol aspires to be a comedic actress. When the two fatefully cross paths they discover each needs something fro the other. Without senses, Moo-gak needs Eun-sol's ability to smell and use it as a tracking method and Eun-sol needs a partner for her acting skit in order to advance with the troupe she has associated with.This was an amazing drama. i liked the "magical" element to it where, when she sees smell, it is all colorful and unique. I like the crime and suspense and the way the detectives grew into a great, caring and cohesive team. The romance between the leads was perfect - I could see them together in real life. It is a shame Park Yoo-chun was incarcerated as I enjoy him so much as an actor. I loved him in Roof Top Prince as well. I hope he can get help with his drug issues and is allowed to recover his career. I think as the American fan base grows there will be more foregiveness for these types of things. The title made me hesitate - how the heck can someone SEE smells? But it was "magical" and added such an intersting level to the story that I loved it. If you want a great crime, drama, romance with a unique twist - this would be the one. It ended well too!
Personal Rating:
Story: 9.5
Acting & Cast: 9.5
Music: 9.5
Cinematography: 9.0
Overall: 97/100
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Different and unique K-drama
I enjoyed it very much. May people think it is the same old drama but, it really isn't. It was light and ended bittersweetly. At first I would admit it was a bit hard to watch, because it was a bit slow for my taste, but later you get to appreciate all the characters and understand that each and everyone of them has a story and you learn to love all of them. Many people weren't interested in the whole sci-fi and AI concept, but I think they play it very well. Also people were talking about how they didn't contact the police after the incident in the first episode, but Yoo-jin did say that the police just thought it was hackers, and you can see it discussed in the first episode. Personally people should learn to love this drama more and look at it as a whole. I loved the characters, the chemistry, and the cinematography (it was fresh and nice to look at). I want to personally give a shout out to Yoon Hyun-min (the actor who plays both Holo and Ko Nan-do) for making both characters personalities different. You could really tell who was who. If you sit down and you watch the whole thing without looking at individual mistakes, you too can love it as much as I did.Personal Rating:
Story: 9.5
Acting & Cast: 9.5
Music: 9.0
Cinematography: 8.5
Overall: 97/100
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This is my first Korean Drama series and pleasantly surprised!
This is one nice and relaxing love story with happy ending for every character. Perfect for those times when you just want to sit back and relax your mind and soul.There is no nerve wrecking plots/characters and I really enjoyed watching it except the 1 year time jump. (I can't emphasize enough just how much I hate time jumps longer than 1 month, except those with a very good reason!!!) There are plenty of romantic moments throughout the whole drama but not that "too sweet" kind of romance and also not not the predictable kind.
There is also a lot of subtle comedy.
All actors did a great job and OST was great too.
Personal Rating:
Story: 10
Acting & Cast: 10
Music: 10
Cinematography: 9.5
Overall: 100/100
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Thought provoking and therapeutic
I was on the fence on whether to watch this show or not. I've seen enough hospital dramas and figured this show would be filled with similar cliches that we've all seen dozens of times. I gave it a go and I'm glad I did. It is a medical drama set in a psychiatric ward and the main storyline focuses on the nurses (and doctors to a lesser degree) who work in that ward. There are 12 episodes in total and I did not, actually could not, binge all of them at once. The main reason for not binging was some episodes made me stop and think about what I'd just seen. The show compelled me to review and rethink about mental health.The show is filled with cliches. Some of the scenes, I can anticipate exactly what would happen and what would be said by which character. There are scenes where conversation between the characters is highly unnatural and is there simply to provide background information. There are some plot holes as well. Despite these factors, the show was entertaining and interesting enough to make me want more and more. Some random acts of kindness that pop out of nowhere, words that seem meaningless that leave a lasting impression.
I surprisingly found the show to be quite immersive, and I also found that immersive experience was almost therapeutic, as I laughed and cried together with the characters. I would highly recommend this show.
Personal Rating:
Story: 10
Acting & Cast: 9.8
Music: 9.2
Cinematography: 9.1
Overall: 98/100
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There will be a second season to watch
I can't believe how many reviews are only basing it off the cliffhanger. From what I could see, the webtoon goes way past where the first season ended, so just sit back and wait for season 2 and stop your bellyaching about the cliffhanger, they're super common in Asian dramas.That being said, the story is fascinating. It has a big tech-fiction edge to it that is relatable to all of us that are so addicted to our phones and apps. The main characters are all great and very well cast. The feels are there, so much feels and the chemistry between the 2 main characters is like a fire that burns inside you! If you're a fan of k-dramas you'll love this one for sure, and if you aren't maybe wait until it's completed before you watch it or you'll just whine about the cliffhanger, or you know just go into it knowing you'll have a juicy cliffhanger that will get you excited for season 2.
Personal Rating:
Story: 10
Acting & Cast: 9.5
Music: 9.5
Cinematography: 9.5
Overall: 100/100
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Best series
The writing and the acting of this little series is extremely good. The chemistry between the two leads, Park Bo Yeong and Park Hyung Shik, is so good it is fun just to see them interact. I believe Bo Yeong won a best actress award for this and she is natural, brilliant and adorable, but Hyung Shik is probably the best male actor I've seen in K-drama. Often the players in k-dramas are wooden and the writing stilted, but this story just flows, even with the number of obligatory slow-mo almost-kiss eye-2-eye staring scenes. I enjoy Korean films and TV dramas, with their endearing flaws; this series kept all the good and was nearly flawless. A really enjoyable watch.Personal Rating:
Story: 10
Acting & Cast: 10
Music: 10
Cinematography: 10
Overall: 100/100
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A Fun Rom-Com Sports KDrama
This is one of the best rom-com Kdramas in 2016. The leading couple Lee Sung-Kyung and Nam Joo Hyuk is like eye candy to watch. Such a well matched on screen couple and the chemistry between the two are so good that their acting appears to be flawless.The flow of the story is great. Unlike in most Korean dramas where the plot makes a twist in the last 1-2 episode, this drama gradually develops to a predictable, yet well-suited ending.
The drama tries to portray real hardships and situations faced by athletes who are majoring various sports like weightlifting, swimming and gymnastics in Sports Universities.
This drama is definitely recommended as a stress reliever and fun to watch.
Personal Rating:
Story: 10
Cast & Acting: 10
Music: 10
Cinematography: 10
Overall: 100/100
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Yet another revenge drama
Plot and Execution:The story revolves around the lives of students at Jooshin High School, where scholarship students are often treated as outsiders and the children of the elite wield their power without consequence. The narrative explores themes of revenge, crime, drama, and romance, weaving a complex tale that is both engaging and thought-provoking.
While "Hierarchy" doesn't break new ground in the genre, it effectively captures the essence of similar series such as "Elite" and "13 Reasons Why." The series addresses the serious issue of bullying and its devastating consequences, a recurring theme in Korean dramas like "Revenge of Others," "True Beauty," and "The Glory."
Characters and Performances:
The cast delivers strong performances, particularly Roh Jeong-eui and Lee Chae-min, who bring depth and authenticity to their roles. The characters are well-developed, allowing viewers to empathize with their struggles and triumphs.
Strengths:
Engaging Storyline: The series offers a compelling narrative that keeps viewers hooked from start to finish, with its blend of drama, crime, and romance.
Strong Performances: The cast, especially the leads, delivers powerful performances that add depth to the story.
Relevant Themes: The exploration of bullying, drug abuse, and the abuse of power resonates with contemporary issues, making the series both relevant and thought-provoking.
High Production Value: The cinematography, set design, and overall production quality are top-notch, enhancing the viewing experience.
Weaknesses:
Predictable Plot: The series follows a familiar formula seen in other dramas of the same genre, making it somewhat predictable.
Inspired Elements: "Hierarchy" feels heavily inspired by series like "13 Reasons Why" and "Revenge of Others," lacking a unique identity of its own.
Conclusion:
"Hierarchy" is a well-executed drama that effectively tackles important social issues within the setting of an elite high school. While it may not be groundbreaking or particularly innovative, it provides a gripping and engaging viewing experience. The strong performances and high production value make it worth watching, even if it sometimes feels derivative of other popular series.
With a teaser hinting at a possible second season, "Hierarchy" is likely to maintain its popularity and continue to make noise globally. It stands as a solid entry in the genre, offering a mix of drama, crime, and romance that will appeal to fans of teen romance and revenge dramas.
Personal Rating:
Story: 9.6
Acting & Cast: 9.3
Music: 8.8
Cinematography: 8 9
Overall: 94/100
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