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Love In A Big City: A Small World For A Big Love!!!
Love in the Big City moved me in a way that’s hard to put into words. It wasn’t just the kind of show you watch—it was the kind that wraps itself around your heart and makes you feel every beat of it. The way it portrayed love felt so deeply real, like it was telling a story for all of us—no labels, no boundaries—just love in its purest form. Watching the characters navigate their emotions, their fears, and their hopes felt like looking into a mirror, seeing the same vulnerabilities and desires we all carry. It’s rare to come across something that feels so human, so alive, that it shakes you to your core. I found myself holding my breath during the quiet moments, feeling the weight of their emotions in my chest as if they were my own. That’s the kind of show this is—the kind that lingers long after the screen fades to black, making you reflect on your own experiences, your own heart.And then there’s the actor. I can’t express how much respect I have for him. It’s one thing to play a role, but it’s another to choose a role that you know could change everything for you. He didn’t just step into this character—he owned it, with every ounce of sincerity and passion he could muster. In a world that sometimes seems afraid of stories that break the mold, he stood there, unapologetically, and told this story with a vulnerability that left me speechless. The bravery it takes to not just perform but to stand behind something that could impact your future is beyond inspiring. He made me realize that sometimes the stories that matter most are the ones that challenge us, the ones that require us to step into the unknown and take a risk. And through him, I felt that—the courage to live fully, to love fully, even when the world isn’t ready. That’s what this show did for me. It made me remember that life isn’t about the endings we look for, but about the moments of truth we live through.
It's impossible to talk about this without acknowledging the groundwork laid by earlier shows, particularly "Where Your Eyes Linger" (2020), directed by Hwang Da Seul. That series marked the first significant step in South Korean media towards openly exploring stories of love between two men. The success of "Where Your Eyes Linger" allowed for a cultural shift, opening doors for more complex, genuine love stories to be told. Since then, the industry has been moving forward cautiously, and "Love in the Big City" feels like the culmination of those brave early efforts, bringing an even broader, more inclusive narrative to the forefront.
What stands out is the journey over these past few years—incremental progress that finally reached a point where a show like this could emerge with confidence. It's a testament to the courage of the creators, actors, and production teams, who have taken a step forward in expanding what love means on screen in a conservative society, showing that love itself transcends all boundaries. It's a show for everyone, capturing the beautiful mess of human emotions, with no need to categorize or define it.
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An old tale of sci-fi world!
Based on 2 episodes and what folds next, it is safe to say that the plot is extremely simple. It is like Hollywood style script, that fell behind the hit the mark.Story:
In a future dystopian world where people or their holograms / shape that requires some pills in their suitcases, are secretly sent back in time through illegal means to carry out missions to stop what causes the destruction. Some are sent back to have a normal life, mostly parents sending their children back. It is obvious that ML and his brother is a huge part of a pandora that sets the events for future. ML will join FL to stop what cause the destruction in future, fighting powerful secret organization, who is most probably seeking funding and technology from ML's company in secret. While fighting truth behind his brother disappearance he will encounter enemies residing in his company, most probably his best friend, who will turn on him, when ML will refuse to do illegal stuff. Outcasted and framed ML, together with FL, brother and restaurant guy form a team to stop all the "bad people". ML brother will eventually die in the end saving his brother.
Acting:
JSW is an amazing actor, there is no doubt. But he is not one for comedy roles. In the first episode he is shown guilt ridden, rich jerk who has a kind heart, but does not acknowledge it. A typical arc for a such characters. But it didn't suit him. May be in Stranger and other series he has played too may serious characters, that his image is imprinted on our minds. I do not understand why there is so much critique when it comes to PSH. She is always a victim of serious public scrutiny, just like Bae Suzy. I have not watcher her, except in Doctors, and she was quite good, plus she is insanely famous. Her acting no joke. I know Chae Jong Hyeop from a award-winning web-drama Rumor, he was a jerk in it, but he did extremely well. He is handsome hunk, and he is doing good, hope this show gives him boast.
Production Values:
Rumored to be most expensive series, it is sad to say it didn't live up-to its expectations. Set designs, vfx, editing, mixing, cinematography is just like an average series. Not like someone with budget they claim more than DOS. Fighting scenes, tech scenes, is not even high tech. Putting robots, big screens, advance computers does not make a series sci-fi. Hello, I mean, has someone seen Arrival, it was decade's best "sci-fi" film, and it did not included high tech.
I am not writing this review in a haste. But I did wanted to write after watching just 2 episodes that is it a very basic plot, with predictable things happening around. There wasn't much left to guess the story after watching first two episodes, I mean, yes, its not like I know the story, but the outline is pretty guessable. Having said this I do not hate the series, I scored it at 7.5. It may change if they really managed to surprised us with some serious and top-notch stuff for rest of the 14 episodes.
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"I am an Seong Mi Do, the Influencer!" What? "Influenza" !!!
It has been a long time since I truly enjoyed the pilot episode. I absolutely loved the first episode of The One and Only.It is indeed not a washed up plot. Also it felt new, raw and broken at the same time. It does not give you introduction of its characters and pushes you right away in the middle of a story, where its characters are already at the end of their lives, even though it just beginning of their story.
I could not find a single filler scene in first episode, may be because it is the first episode, but I highly doubt it is going be any less than its first episode in quality. The tone, the setting and and the pain of its characters is a reflection of what is heading towards the rest of the story.
I am a fan of AEJ, I have liked her since I first saw her. even though she in the industry for over 10 years, but not until 2018 she truly entered television medium. She is a theater actress and on that a musical one, so you can guess her range of emotions and ability to showcase a huge spectrum of roles and characters - she is not only a versatile actress but possesses an ability to channel her emotions through her characters to a great length to give them life. She did not disappoint here as well. A job well done, not less, no more, hits you hard sometime. What I had expected, she delivered and I am very very much satisfied. I have no doubt in Kim Kyung Nam that he wouldn't do justice to his character. After watching the episodes, I was right, he is too on a path to glory of his capability of doing something different. I hope this series brings him a good fortune.
I am so loving the other characters, and can't wait how ravel stories will be unraveled and how people of Ahumiti will come to heal each other before exiting this life. I never thought Pyo In Sook first day would be this eventful, and she would have soulmates so early on. But I guess they don't have time to know each other to gel well, jumping right into it is the only solution and I like that, sometimes introduction and pace is not important.
Her grandmother scenes are heartbreaking, why always it is like that when parents are shitty, it is grandma that has to take responsibility for their child crimes. This show is going to show a lot of blood boiling stories, but at the same will show how the people at the center of those stories living their last.
The trio and the one, is going to come together to heal each other and in the middle of dying a desire of living will take place. I just hope they stick to the story, and what shouldn't happen, must not happen. Otherwise the story will lose its meaning.
I fell in love with this series, I am sure you will too. Give it a chance, it is going to be roller coaster ride of tears and happiness, of course marinated with death.
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With love they thrived in the darkest of their times!
First two episodes, had me in tears - the five siblings, carrying the burden of poverty, negligence and loss of their mother, with unhinged and gambling father… the eldest took everything on his thin and lean shoulders."When you hit rock bottom hard, there is no way but to go up!"
He gritted his teeth, clenched his fists, hid his pain and put a poker face to make a better fate for him and his four little siblings, who look up to him, every time - when they were hungry, when they needed clothes, when they needed washing, when they needed feeding, and when they needed to be saved by the cruel face of poverty.
He did it all, and he did so without complaining. To whom he could complain? No one.
I was looking forward to this series, and worried it wouldn’t be subbed on time, but thanks to the effort of subbers, VIKi and other people, who made this gem be able to watch. I am so glad I am watching it. Though much of it is yet to come to screen, but I know from the start that it is not going to be an easy journey as a viewer but will be a profound experience of storytelling extremely close to heart, and family oriented.
The Bond that these five siblings shares, or the one who grew apart from them, is unbelievable.
A must watch series for all!
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This review may contain spoilers
A typical tale of Korean TV
As expected the series offered nothing with its first episode.Same good old innocent FL haunted by her mother memories, failing at job encounters poor SL, who becomes shoulder to cry on, circles around her, helps her only to be sidelined by ML. I am already feeling extremely sorry for Ji Soo, whose character is going to be sad one, as always. And then there is female ex, her face is enough to tell that she is cunning, devious and one tortuous character.
The acting wise is going to be amazing, it was the only rating I could give 10 by 10. Others, I am not sure, as this the drama, whose is story is told million time in different style in Korean television industry.
When on earth they will Ji-Soo a leading role and not a SL or whatever, he deserves more than this!!!
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