Maritza

The Price of Beauty

...Can I just say,before delving into this review head first...What a good KDrama. Honestly. It`s been A WHILE since I saw something this controversially twisted yet...beautiful.

As always,if this is your first time coming across my reviews,I like to thank the crew,staff,actors and everyone involved in making this(and any other)drama. As an aspiring writer myself,I`m well aware of trials and tribulations one must go through to deliver dramas,movies and many other forms of art. Thank you.

To start this particular review off,I`ll probably be leaning more towards my own feelings towards this drama`s message,as someone who doesn`t fit in ANY beauty standard,be it of my own country and/or foreign. I mean,I do like to begin by listing off the positives,after all.

With Kim Mo Mi being played by a wonderful array of actresses,from striking rookie actress Lee Han Byeol,wildly impressionable Nana to seasoned competitor Ko Hyun Jung,you can really get the feeling of Mask Girl growing and changing. With every hand that handles her differently. But what is so thought-provoking about this drama,that`d warrant a lengthy review from yours truly?Well,let`s take a looksie at the plot itself. More than your straightforward affair,much of this character study(both of one character and one GENERATION of characters) relies heavily on both utmost stylization(purposefully) and female experience. You see,if I had to compare this drama(based on a webtoon by the same name,which ran from 2015 to 2018.) to any piece of media,it reminds me so much of a gem that should definitely be reevaluated today,a movie by the name of `Helter Skelter`(2012). `Mask Girl`s insistence on weaponization of male gaze(helped by the fact that all female characters of this drama suffer because of the labels superimposed on them by society they want so desperately to please) makes it feel like `Helter Skelter`s more adult cousin. Hammering in even more just how much damage one can cause to self and others by simply wanting to be accepted into the mold,yet stand out all the same.

Across the board,every actor did great with their respective roles,with Lee Han Byeol and Yeom Hye Ran being my personal standouts. Despite it covering about two decades(with 80s being referenced slightly,yet shaping a lot of Mo Mi`s perception),`Mask Girl` feels very modern in its execution. And it also doesn`t feel much like a KDrama at all. And in this context,that`s a good thing,you see. Much like Mask Girl,an entity the whole country of South Korea seemingly became obsessed with(with men chasing and tailing her even after what she does,while women almost exclusively seem to hate and want to bring her down),many KDramas discussing infamous Korean beauty standard,undergo a certain level of...performative shallowness(dramas like `She Was Pretty`,`True Beauty` and `Oh My Venus` come to mind). These are noticeable in their wish to `have their cake and eat it too`. Ergo,these specific examples are ready to discuss how damaging these severe expectations in the form of a beauty standard are...as long as they`re still adhered to and ultimately make the protagonist happy and fulfilled. At best patronizing,at worst damaging to many people,this form of storytelling communicates that the one writing it never questioned the existence of the standard itself.

Whilst `Mask Girl` has other conflicts to pad out the runtime(some of which work, others not so much),it is without a doubt,Mo Mi`s necessity to be loved by everyone,that catapults her into a whirlpool of trauma,crime and a new life.

Another aspect of this drama that isn`t all KDrama like,is how not one character here is GOOD. You could make a strong case against any of them and I`d agree. Mo Mi is not a good person,but you,as a viewer,can clearly see why and how,her twisted nature came to be. Many of her decisions bear weighty consequences. At some points,I COULDN`T anticipate her next move. But not in a ready to shock only for exploitation way. More in a,oh this character is layers and layers way. Do not be mistaken,there ARE some exploitative aspects. But they do service a bigger picture,almost like exploitation movies of the 70s. I prefer this. I`d rather have hard hitting scenes with a purpose,than unnecessary fan service to warrant that Netflix +18 rating. I`d go as far as to say that this drama`s payoffs are seriously punishing,something Korean dramas in particular have a hard time balancing(most recently,dramas like `Flower of Evil` have this issue).

Storytelling,though jumpy for most of the runtime(may turn people off),feels fluid too,mostly because Mask Girl very much could serve as a concept,rather than a character outright. The ending is both heartbreaking and positive,depending on which side of the justice spectrum you fall on.

As for drawbacks,there aren`t many but they are noticeable. For one,I would have preferred this as a 12 episode KDrama(asking for more episodes is not something I expected to want at this point in my KDrama journey). There are some story elements and key plot points left unanswered and put to the wayside for some other storytelling devices.

Secondly,this drama does something I`m not very fond of and that`s relying on coincidence to push the story along,something glaringly obvious like that happens in the last two episodes.

Finally,while it`s not a drawback for me at all(in fact I WANT KDramas to get more experimental,even at their own detriment because God knows they could use a challenge),`Mask Girl` might be too much for an average KDrama enjoyer used to tried and true tropes and bland thrillers. I`d gauge your readiness for this drama by how well you know and enjoy JDramas,because much of `Mask Girl` is reminiscent of more mature crime JDramas.

And that`s about it. Truthfullly,I didn`t expect to like this drama as much as I did,especially given the rating it holds on here. What I found,however,is that unlike a well polished veneer hiding hollow space,`Mask Girl` is more akin to a dark,macabre fantasy. You`ll either love it or hate it. At least it`s not empty. It`s ugly,and yet...so beautiful. And incidentally,it wears no mask.

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CLASSIC STORY FILLED WITH EARNESTNESS

"Going through this life is the first for all of us anyway."

Unlike my other drama reviews, I have to first preface this one by saying that this drama could very well be universal, one size fits all type of drama. Because through three interwoven stories, everyone and anyone can find themselves reflected in at least one character.

Now back to my usual form of writing.

To start off, the good sides of this drama are heartfelt, true and educational(strangely enough), but it doesn`t mutually exclude the fact that they aren`t, at the same time, fluffy, somewhat funny and easy to watch. Every actor does a phenomenal job of living in their role, as their character. I thoroughly believed in these people, their struggles and way of living. No one here knows exactly what they`re doing or if what they are doing is right by default. But that doesn`t mean they don`t try. The absurdist comedy and lessons presented throughout are much of the time spot on in helping us see each person for what they stand and how. Because we do the same thing. We all have our quirks, routines and principles some might not agree with. Yet we press on. In the midst of relatable scenes that hit harder than most love confessions, my two favorites are:
1.When Ji-ho is walking through a dark tunnel in her pajamas aimlessly, after enduring sexual abuse and barely avoiding ra*e, talking about how your family could, at times, be the biggest strangers to you. How she was ready to take on every toil due to the fact that she chose to be a drama writer. She knew her path would be lonely and dark, like the tunnel she was perusing at that moment, but she still didn`t know the extent of it all. For personal reasons, that spoke to me in this exact moment of time. It was effective, clear and loud without being preachy or coming off as compensating.
2. When Se Hee was subconsciously consoling Ji-ho at that bus stop, which is probably the most well-known scene of this drama and what probably drew YOU to check it out and find out more about it. By watching this scene, I was also consoled on a deeper level not any drama could even touch, let alone soothe.
And this is where the magic of this show is contained. In its earnestness and good understanding of adult life as such. We all love admiring capable, ambitious and focused individuals(like Woo Soo Ji) without realizing that this is life...is a first for all of us. Such a simple truth is sadly almost never relayed in media. Despite being one, if not THE MOST depressed generation of our lifetime, you would never guess it by most pieces of the media we consume. And that`s such a missed opportunity this show tries to highlight. We shame others for being at crossroads, for not knowing what to do or where to turn to. And as this show so clearly expresses...we shouldn`t. Like that poem Ji-ho finds(which became my favorite as well), people are fragile, chipped away by time and situations they had to face by this point. Instead of accepting that and letting them heal, we berate them, rejecting what they can be in the process. It`s such a fruitless cycle. I get this review might be regarded as somewhat of an ode to life crisis, but it`s just an observation of young life and what awaits us as society. The fact that a show got me to think about these ideas and concepts is, in my opinion, an accomplishment on its own. It helps that it`s coupled with some visual cues movie buffs like myself appreciate even more. The OST is also subtle, but appropriate, boosting the atmosphere and letting scenes breathe on their own time. This isn`t a drama which needs emotional songs to relay its message, but when they are put in, it doesn`t hinder the feeling either.

After these compliments, like any drama, there are some drawbacks that got me thinking. First one is the pacing of it, though most Korean dramas suffer in this regard. It can at parts be too long. Especially if you`re not invested in the story, which admittedly, isn`t all that original. It`s the way they decide to present it what defines it. Without it, this is just another cohabitation story between a cold ML and a ditzy FL. To be honest, I can`t fault it for anything else, because it`s a great slice of life drama. One of those I like the most. Unassuming, changing and memorable. Kind of like life itself.

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A WORTHY ADDITION TO THE DRAMA WORLD

Is this a good drama? Yes.
Are its characters well developed, for the most part?Also yes.
But can it, at times, seem draggy and honestly, kind of boring?YES.

I can definitely see how and why people see this show as a certified classic, creme de la crème of the drama world, as it admittedly has one of the more interesting and gripping plots I`ve seen so far. Action, drama, revenge, not your typical run of the mill, ruined male protagonist... All of these are its good points, together with a great soundtrack. But I still have to hold it to a higher standard, being as popular as it is. This means that my praises are still valid, but criticism is harsher. However, despite it all, it somehow still leaves me wanting more and honestly, I don`t know why. This drama is one of those things which you can respect more than, really love. Like how Lars fon Trir is a great film director, but his films are mostly just not my cup of tea. This logic can be applied here as well. Some plot lines are rather regurgitated and brought back throughout this drama, that I also wasn`t a fan of. It`s a thrill ride up until episode 5, I would say, when it slows down for some actual character development but it also becomes strangely void. My favorite part of any drama is typically that down time, when we actually start to learn and care about our characters. Only, as a fan of quick and tight characterisation(present in "It`s Okay, That`s Love" for an example, where you immediately get the feel of the characters you`re presented with with their first lines), Moon Ho was effectively my favorite character, alongside Seo Jung-hu and Jo Min-ja, who is, to me, the most organically strong female character. Moon Ho has layers upon layers of personality and you only grow more interested in the next one as you peel the previous layer. He`s funny, jaded, charismatic and even though he didn`t get as much of screen time as I would`ve liked(this goes for Min-ja and Moon Sik as well), he owned every scene he was in. The older actors are a delight to watch and you actually feel the weight of guilt, corruption and fear they experience fully. The problem lies in the two main characters however. Or rather, the way they develop less and less as the show moves along. I just feel like for the amount of episodes they were given, Jung-hu and Chae Young-shin, deserved some more introspection. When Young-shin was talking and opening up about her abusive childhood in the second episode, I felt it rushed. It felt almost out of place, this early in the show, so I would`ve liked if they had taken the same approach to her backstory as the one they took to Jung-hu`s backstory, which was presented a lot more naturally. That one scene with his mother in the shaved ice shop is an AMAZING representation of good writing and I urge you, even if you won`t watch this, to see that scene, even all on its own, it`ll move you, for sure. His development however, is halted when the romance kicks into gear. And it`s like writers give up on his intellect as well, as he makes some really questionable decisions which, his character at the start of the show would never make, because of his intelligence. And this is the weakest part of the show. It might be unpopular, but due to the way it was presented, I actually wouldn`t have minded if Young-shin and Jung-hu didn`t end up together. I feel like that would be the final act of tying everything together so that each character can get his or her, fresh start.

The last five episodes are definitely draggy, so much so that I actually ended up watching them as background noise. It`s obvious that what they needed to develop, they haven`t really, while they spent A LOT of time on stories which are nonconsequential when compared to, say, Jung-hu`s and Ki Young-jae`s relationship, which I wanted developed SO MUCH as I loved his character too. But they kill him off so quickly, so he was basically a misplaced and mishandled plot device to further the story. At times, the mystery is handled well, like with throwbacks to the five friends and their time at the junkyard. Other times, it`s messy and chaotic, like Jung-hu trying to find out whether his dad is guilty or not. The action is top notch though. Sure, it`s outlandish and obviously a bit campy but it works, and I wish we got more of it.

Overall, this drama is good, but definitely overhyped for today`s standards. Though it revolutionized the drama game, it`s still far away from that title of timeless excellence, at least in my eyes. But as a good action, it`s definitely up to snuff.

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A regurgitated story with wasted chemistry

Let me start off this review by saying that I really wanted to like this drama. I really did. This drama was Yoon Eun Hye`s first project after massively popular and rightfully heralded "Coffee Prince", a drama that will forever stay as a classic and my second favorite show ever. On the other hand, this was my first experience with Yoon Sang-Hyun`s acting, given that I dropped "Secret Garden" fairly quickly, so I only got a proper glimpse of him as the famous Oska. I found that his portrayal, while not perfect by any means, is rather earnest and despite everything else, the chemistry between him and Eun Hye is definitely palpable. Which is why I`m disappointed. And I knew what I was getting into. While MDL ratings don`t reflect the quality of a drama in most cases, they still serve as pointers for what a watcher should expect in terms of originality and thinking outside of the box. And this box was too narrow to get out of.

Unlike most people on this site, I actually prefer unrelatable and bratty characters most of the time, since my life is too damn flat to go out of my way and watch those kind of characters for fun too. And, with that being said, with a few exceptions, I didn`t find anything wrong with Yoon Eun Hye`s acting. I found those flaws in directing, however. Actors would often deliver their lines and then obviously pretend to do something in order to fulfill the scene. Only they do it in such a way where it`s obvious that the hammy acting isn`t their fault, but the fault of director`s vision and disability to, well, direct. Shots are generally uninspiring, while some amateurish mistakes make their way into the final cut. The script...is a script. It`s cliché, written by numbers type of script. The worst part of this whole drama for me, however, is the waste of actual chemistry here. Not one of these relationships feel genuine. There`s lack of affection, decisions made without any kind of credible backing and I hate it. Tae-Yun asks Hae Na to marry him without them even kissing, only meeting in passing like you would do with an old friend. Hae Na and Dong Chan`s relationship progresses so quickly in the last few episodes from two unexciting kisses to making love without anything in between, it`s so weird. It`s jarring too so all this sexual tension that is there evaporates because of the writers` inability to show intimacy progression well. The last few episodes I had on as background noise, because they were quite clearly filler. By the end, I didn`t care about anyone at all. The President`s death didn't move me, the second couple`s chemistry is entirely nonexistent and the over-the-top presentation becomes an ugly crutch.

While I can`t agree with reviewers saying that the main couple had no chemistry(their connection was the actual highlight for me and that`s what ultimately kept me watching), I agree on almost everything else. This drama is uninspiring slug of good ideas and bad executions, so it was a bust on more levels than I`d like to admit.

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I didn`t grow up with this drama - So I`m less lenient

Like the headline reads, while I definitely grew up on Japanese dramas(like Hana Yori Dango, Last Cinderella, Mei-chan no Shitsuji...) I didn`t grow up on this one. I did hear about it a lot. Horikita Mari, Oguri Shun, Mizushima Hiro and Ikuta Toma are all actors I immensely enjoy watching. They are, to me, like an OG group of Japanese dramas and whenever I see them in something, it reminds me of my childhood. That being said, this drama should still appeal to me. For some odd reason, I find cosplaying female characters very interesting to watch, because situations that arise always draw out at least a chuckle out of me.(plus, movie "She`s the Man" is one of my favorite comedies of all time). It, for some reason, doesn`t as much as I thought it would, especially since, apart from the cast, I like some of the mangaka`s work this drama is based on.

The plot points, the ending, the comedy and the actions characters take are all too familiar and though that isn`t an excuse, they aren`t as well executed as I thought they would be. Just physically, Horikita Mari is a bad option for a believable male cosplay since she is obviously, very feminine-looking, even though she is talented, no question about it. I don`t know, guess it just doesn't possess that magic of nostalgia to make me see this drama as that golden nugget.

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NOT YOUR AVERAGE DRAMA

Do you know when I knew that I was going to like this drama?

When I saw Kim Chang Wan. Just kidding, but it`s becoming a habit to like everything this man picks, I don`t think I saw one bad project of his. On a serious note, it was when I skipped over to the last shot of the last episode, hearing Carla Bruni sing "Spring Waltz" and seeing a couple go in and out of the frame, laughing and kissing.

In a pharmacy of all places. If I had to use one word to describe this drama, it would be `natural`. Just most things about it feel natural. The music choices(even though I adore all the songs they used and have them on my phone as I type this, they do get repetitive), the acting, the way almost every shot is composed, even down to the actual locations, which are set up perfectly and when you see dramas with such fake sets, you come to appreciate this attention to detail a lot more. I went into this drama not knowing nor expecting a whole lot, since I haven`t seen "Something in the Rain". I also couldn`t draw any conclusion from the poster alone. The title sounds unassuming. In fact, I didn`t even read the synopsis. And in hindsight, I think that`s the best way to approach this drama. Let me warn you first though, it`s SLOW. Locations rarely change, there`s no exciting actions nor dramatic revelations. Which can turn off some, but it was such a welcomed change of pace for me. After a slew of dramas incorporating memory loss, childhood friends finding each other again, stupid, easily solvable misunderstandings and more, seeing actors portray characters that act like PEOPLE, like you and I and many others off the street, was borderline exhilarating.

And I didn`t even start talking about the actual show yet. First off, the acting. What acting?These actors ARE their characters. The things they talk about, the way they make small gestures, it all counts for something. If you can`t find anything else to enjoy in this drama, be assured that you`ll at least love the acting, because it`s that good. I`ve skimmed through some of the reviews for this drama, and while some are more than valid and helped me understand why it`s(in my opinion) underrated, some were downright confusing, citing lack of chemistry and acting. Let me elaborate. With a script and pace like this, you have no other alternative but to depend almost exclusively on the chemistry and banter between your actors. To put it bluntly, had that really been the truth, this drama, with all its potential, would have gone down the drain. In fact, someone used this as a negative but I would wholeheartedly use it as a positive. They wrote:"This whole thing feels like an improvisation."And I agree. It feels real, not clumsy. Even when some questionable plot points are brought up, the way characters react to them is not good or bad, it`s just real. And they all have flaws that can sometimes even be glaring, making you forget that hey, they do have some merits as well. Jeong-in is smart and cunning, but she`s also overbearing and rash. I heard that this role was first offered to Son Ye-jin, and boy, am I ever so glad that she turned it down because this is Han Ji-min`s character through and through. She plays the jaded, at time lifeless, drudging along life Jeong-in like a pro. Same goes for Jung Hae-in, whose Ji-ho unanimously reminds me of "It`s Okay to Not be Okay"`s Gang-tae. He suppresses his thoughts and feelings for both his child and to not be hurt emotionally again. It`s believable, frustrating and, at times heartbreaking. Their relationship isn`t perfect either, like they usually are in dramaland, until some big twist occurs.They don`t agree on things and argue, but they do it in such a way where you almost want to be like: "Hey guys, it`s fine." And they`ll reconcile. I`m a big fan of such portrayal. I really connected with them and am so glad that they got their happy ending. It almost felt like bidding goodbye to good, old friends, knowing that they`ll be happy for sure. Don`t be mistaken however, the rest of the cast does its job exceptionally well. Especially Lee Moo-saeng, whose role of an manipulative and abusive husband of Seo-in, Jeong-in`s older sister, is so convincing that I felt creeped out. The way he changes his tone and facial expressions from pleading, affectionate to pure, white rage, is beautiful, in a twisted sense. It`s disgustingly realistic. Same goes for the character of Gi-seok, who started off as someone worthy of some sympathy and ended up being someone so calculating and pathetic, that you just wanted to squash him. Bottom line is, all of these characters feel alive and like someone you know.

To be honest, I really couldn`t shake the feeling of being a voyeur almost, spying on these people and their conversations in secret, feeling the spring air envelop my body in a comfortable cocoon. The shots breathe, they are handled with care and are sometimes impressive. The writing is rather average, but there are some notable moments, like the "Don`t cross the street" scene and such. Also, and I didn`t see anyone else mention this yet, but the humor in this drama is spot on. I would by no means call it a comedy, but the lines of dialogue that should be perceived as funny, are, in a realistic, dry sense that I find amusing. Again, this is my review after all. And the jokes that land, do so on the back of relatability. We`ve all gotten drunk when we shouldn`t have and we`ve all been teased by our friends for our dating choices. And it still comes off as funny, that`s what I like to see. Now for the drawbacks.

I have to thread lightly here, as many people have so many cons when talking about this drama, but I only have two. Characters won`t get as much character development as you think they would, and the things you want them to solve, probably won`t be solved conclusively. What I mean by this is that we love to project our hero complexes and like to expect positive results from drama characters, stemming from expectations we imprinted upon them. It`s inevitable and we all do it. So don`t be disappointed when things don`t go your way, even though they should. I won`t spoil anything, but you`ll know what I`m talking about when you experience Seo-in`s storyline. Also, and I can`t stress this enough, be prepared for a lot of lingering shots of people doing everyday things. Be prepared to see a lot of mundane activities displayed and, even though you may think that they are showing you something pointless, this is also how you can let your audience in the minds of your characters.

In the end, "One Spring Night" is definitely not for everyone and you do have to be in a certain mood to enjoy it, but at the same time, I feel like this is one of those dramas which will get more recognition as time passes by. I eagerly await that spring day when I can recommend this drama to someone and to hear a reply like "Oh yes, I watched it. It`s a classic."Because I think it just might deserve it.

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A good story, but plagued with inconsistencies

I would like to start off by listing all of the positives of this drama, before I delve into the crux of my issue with it.

+ For one, which I don`t see a lot of praise for, is the beautiful OST interwoven throughout this show(especially in the first few episodes-that scene of Ji Ah and Yeon falling with the moon in the background was made 10 times more epic by that soundtrack). It helped keep action scenes intense and sad, heartbreaking ones even more delicate. Truly, a job well done.
+The character of Lee Rang. This character is probably the most consistent one, apart from Yu Ri, in regards to both his motivations, wishes and goals. Kim Beom and Kim Yong Ji have really outdone themselves, acting wise, managing to top even Lee Dong Wook, and it`s a real shame that they weren`t more present throughout the story itself, as I personally connected with them more than with Ji Ah, for example. Lee Rang`s story arc is also the most well thought out one, with only a few writing mishaps here and there(like when he asks Yeon where Ji Ah lives in one of the later episodes, even though, in the very 2nd episode, he was fighting with him in that same location, fully knowing that that was Ji Ah`s home) and considering what errors the writers make later on, they are basically nonexistent.
+Character of Granny, her husband and most of the creatures. Truly, practical makeup on the spirits in The Forest of the Starved is one of the best that I`ve seen in a long time. Not only that, but the characters I mentioned all do a great job of making everything seem believable and are giving their best effort. Even though we are not supposed to side with Granny, especially when she makes the same mistake twice, I`m not ashamed to admit that I was agreeing with her points on more than one occasion. The actress playing her was really convincing, bringing cold, but tragic nuance to her character, and I appreciate that greatly.
+The chemistry between Ji Ah and Yeon. Yes, I can see good chemistry between these actors. Not great, but definitely better than some reviews made it out. And that is more thanks to Lee Dong Wook, definitely. There is a difference between there being no chemistry and deciding to consciously underdevelop your couple. Ji Ah and Yeon suffer from the latter, but the chemistry is present.
+The subplot of trapped islanders, having to resort to cannibalism to stay alive. This story is, without a doubt, the darkest one and made me very uncomfortable, but earned respect from me for its depiction.

Which brings me to my main gripes which make this drama a good story, instead of an epic one:

- How everyone, and I do mean everyone, heavily relies on Yeon to save them, help them or otherwise be there for them, without really giving anything in return. Yes, Yeon is a good character with his inner conflicts and a sad past as well. However, due to fate and destiny, he is condemned to constantly save Ji Ah, to deal with his brother`s mood swings(twice, I`ll get to that), to fight against the Imoogi and create traps for it basically alone, and to suffer without anyone really paying attention to everything he`s done for them. This right here really made me side with Granny in regards to his feelings for Ji Ah.
- Power inconsistencies. This is a minor one, but the writers really want me to believe that Imoogi(who was rejected as a mountain spirit, spent most of his life locked away, while working on his intellect) is on the same level as Yeon when it comes to combat, which just does not make any sense. In tactical and scheming sense, sure, but in actual fighting?Also, and this made me even more frustrated. Even though the story as such was not hard to follow at all(but then again, I`m into anime and mythology overall), it is a fact that Yeon and Imoogi, in particular, were overpowered for the sake of the plot. We were never made aware of the limitations that come with their power, and if it was mentioned, it was done in passing or when the plot called for it.
- And finally, the worst offender on this list, the character of Ji Ah and the writing... as a whole. I know what they were trying to do with Ji Ah most of the time, I do. That doesn`t mean they succeeded though. From episode 6 onwards, her character just downright pissed me off. Not only was she making decisions that made no sense overall(from going out to meet Imoogi when Yeon specifically told her not to, and why, which led to the whole tragedy in the first place) to her being content just watching on the sidelines while Yeon basically fought their battle... alone. If she didn`t know that she was precious to Imoogi and that he couldn`t kill her, I could understand why she would be hesitant. But she KNEW. For a character that prides herself on her knowledge of the paranormal and her intellect, she sure as hell didn`t cooperate in their investigation. She does this for a living, mind you. Not only that, but she blamed Yeon for killing her and not caring about her, when my man literally saved her life twice and she had not seen the rest of the vision play out.The scenes between them being a couple were cute, but lacking and the conflicts were repeated twice. Yes twice, which also makes me believe that this drama, with this script, should`ve been shorter. Maybe around 13 episodes.

The writing itself at points(especially regarding artefacts) was abysmal. From those glasses only showing how someone looked in the exact life we needed to see, without any backstory, to Ji Ah basically watching a movie of herself in that exact time period, because she`s the main character. Also, all of a sudden there is a macguffin that wasn`t even mentioned before conveniently appearing where it should and the other mountain spirit not being able to smell Imoogi just before he steals his object is just hilarious and out of left field completely. I wasn`t as mad about the ending as some people were, but it was interesting to me just how everyone reincarnated, looking exactly the same, when I think it would`ve been more intriguing if they found each other looking completely different and still stayed together.

Like Yeon said in the first episode:"I don`t care about how she looks, sounds nor if she`s a woman."That was just potential wasted. I don't think the problem with this drama lies in the ending, but rather in the fearful execution and leaving everything half-baked.

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A quite original drama actually

This drama is not that special in the sense of its story, it`s very cookie cutter - older woman and younger man start off by getting to know each other and they have vastly different personalities. That`s where the true originality of this show lies. The characters are all not quite what you would find in a drama like this. The female lead is cold and, at times ruthless, but still likeable. The actress playing her has done a GREAT job in showing her both clumsy, but endearing side and that serious, mysterious one. She`s also very attractive, goes forward and has a surprisingly positive outlook on life by the end of the show- which is not as common with this character type. On the other hand, the male lead really becomes one in episode seven. Up to that point, he`s always reminded me of that cute younger brother, that doesn`t know how to do anything but you still keep him around. He`s not as pensive or mature as men in these types of dramas usually are, which adds to my whole point of originality of the actual couple dynamic. Other characters compliment the whole thing well, though they are quite one dimensional, at the end of the day.

As for drawbacks, the romance doesn't really kick in until episode 7 or 8. Up to that point, both the female lead and male lead are both busy with their issues and also getting to know each other and their habits, which, this drama includes cohabitation, which I typically like as a trope. It`s always easier to believe a romance when two people fall in love despite seeing each other in pathetic conditions and situations. The way they decide to wrap up the romance is not my favourite either, but it's still fun to watch.

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The role behind which I can stand

Finally, Lee Min-ho proves that he actually has talent and isn`t just a pretty face. I have to be honest for a second and say that after watching "Boys Over Flowers" and "Personal Taste", I really started to lose hope for him and deeply questioned his hype. I still do that, as this is my first time seeing him actually ACT convincingly. I was about to give up, my guy!

I think that most actors here do a good job, but they also have a solid script to back them up. This is my first Kim Go-Eun drama and first off, I have to say:she is STUNNING. I am not usually one to comment on actor`s looks, as they don`t and they shouldn`t determine their ability to do their job, but she is a looker. And she`s also great in the role of uptight, serious, sarcastic police detective. I have to admit, I haven`t watched "Goblin" and I probably never will(the reason for that can be referred to in my "Coffee Prince" review), so I didn`t know what to expect from her, but she really did good. And the chemistry between the two is great as well. For sure the best leading lady alongside whom Lee Min-ho had the pleasure of acting. As for other notable performances, Woo Do-Hwan and Lee Jung-Jin give their all and their roles were also the trickiest to pull off and I`d say they succeeded. Jung Eun-Chae was a bit of a hit-or-miss but overall pretty stable acting across the board.

Cinematography is done beautifully and many shots straight up look like they belong in a fairytale, especially time stopping sequences. Those are just stunning. I`ve seen people criticize the soundtrack for this drama, but I felt like it was a perfect fit, but then again, I do prefer my dramas with atmospheric compositions, rather than distracting songs, which can sometimes take away from the actors` performances. There is also criticism about the sponsorships they basically shoehorned in, but in reality, I felt like there was the same amount of sponsorships as in any other modern Korean drama.

Now, for the bad parts. I really dislike how convoluted the script becomes after episode 14. Like, I can follow time travelling lingo pretty well and I was even like?Wait??? Also the way Lee Lim ended up leaves a bit to be desired and I wish we saw Tae-eul and Lee Gon married, maybe with kids, but definitely married as that was kind of an important plot point. Their time hopping dates seem fun, but like after everything they`ve been through because of that power, if that was me, the last thing I would want to do for a while is time travel. But to each their own. This was a pretty good drama for dramaholics like myself and I would recommend it.

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An interesting watch for sure

"Strong Woman Do Bong Soon" is one of my first `newer` Korean dramas I`ve seen since starting to watch them half a year ago. I have to say that, though my rating is not as high as the rating average for a reason I`ll elaborate on further, it is still the type of drama that will never keep you bored. And for that, writers and producers have to thank the set designers and actors, because had this drama had actors that were just a little bit less likeable, this rating would plunge into 6s. The main reason for that being, like others have mentioned, a strong dissonance between genres they were trying to include. Romance, comedy, thriller, action... The tone of this drama is all over the place, and it almost feels like they were writing the drama episode by episode, depending on the audience`s reception. Funnily enough, this is that type of drama which you`ll search up on Youtube, and end up watching strictly funny interactions between Bong Soon and Min-Hyuk. Park Hyung-sik did a phenomenal job with his character, even down to the level of charisma he exudes. He also feels the most natural in his role, while I`m not as sold on Park Bo-young yet. Her acting in this was serviceable, but I did feel a bit of a disconnect in her facial expressions.

Since I have a feeling that Bong Soon was supposed to be even more fiery than she ended up being in her potrayal, Bo-young sometimes felt a touch too cutesy and innocent, so when she was supposed to be badass, it still only conveyed a quarter of what she wanted to, I`m sure. But I`ll keep my eye out for her future projects, because I think she does have a talent. The comedy can at times be spot on or a total miss, but I`ll chalk that up to my love of dry and weird humor rather than the slapstick type this drama goes for.

My closing sentence would be that, though it`s not at all bad or bland, this is that drama that you`ll forget about after, say, a week of watching it. So, while I do think you`ll get some nice scenes and feelings out of watching it, the rewatch value for me on this one is quite low.

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When childhood friends trope WORKS

Let`s not delude ourselves. The plot of this drama is not original nor new in any way. We`ve all seen these tropes before. Childhood friends grow into adulthood without figuring out their feelings for each other and when they do, new problems arise. Yes, the synopsis is nothing new or never seen before. Does that then, mean that this story is not worth a watch?Absolutely NOT.

I`ve been thinking about this for days now, in preparation for this review. What makes this drama so appealing to me, when I cannot relate to it in the slightest, nor am I floored by its originality. It`s not overly deep, profound nor that insightful in the long run. Oh, but is it enjoyable. This drama is like that cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter day, which you didn`t even know you were craving. So just what makes this once a hit?

First of all, the cast works wonders with each other, especially Park Seo-joon. These kind of roles really suit him and dare I say, he`s better here than in "What`s Wrong With Secretary Kim?". He`s a likeable goof and a definite comic relief throughout, though Choi Ae Ra, doesn`t fall far behind. I got to admit that I do love the childhood friends to lovers trope a lot. No matter how many times I see it, if it`s done right. And here it is done exactly right and feels organic. You get that feeling of romantic excitement, but it`s comfortably sweet and interesting and not at all on the nose or jumping out for attention. Now, this drama is far, far from realistic. But does that make it bad?Heck no!We all need that feel good drama from time to time and this just about scratches that itch. When it comes to these kind of stories, you NEED good chemistry and likeable characters to keep the viewers engaged. And they knew exactly what they were doing with this one. I do have some drawbacks to this one, like the whole Ae Ra`s mother plot and Seol-hee and Joo-man`s story. They shouldn`t have stayed together in the end I think. Or at least, they should`ve had an open ending prepared for them, giving them an actual opportunity to get used to their new life roles. For Ae Ra and Dong Man it felt right and spontaneous to give them a clear happy ending, but for the secondary couple I`m a bit iffy. Also Dong Man`s mixed martial arts storyline is the best out of all of them and I found myself rooting for him the most, he`s just a riot. Another little complaint that I have to add is that, even though I like the characters from the start, I do feel like at the end, they don`t grow a whole lot, despite having them go through hard stuff. Which isn`t bad in it of itself but I would`ve liked some development in that department.

Soundtrack is okay, nothing spectacular really and the villains are subpar at best, but despite that, there are no clichéd love triangles nor amnesia so I am glad for that.

Is this a drama masterpiece? No, but it excels and succeeds in what it`s trying to be, so it`s good in my book.

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A VALIANT EFFORT- but it`s still a drama

If you were to ask an average drama addict to recommend you a good drama tackling mental health and societal issues within that context, they would most probably answer with three contenders:"It`s Okay to Not be Okay", "It`s Okay, That`s Love"(my personal favorite) and this drama. And while all of these depict a wide array of mental illnesses(from antisocial personality disorder to schizophrenia), "Kill Me, Heal Me" would still be an endearing pick, but nowhere near as serious and pondering as the competition.

"Kill Me, Heal Me" should be watched for Ji Sung`s and Park Seo Joon`s great performances(people always dunk on his abilities, but I personally find PSJ very capable when given the right script and this is the proof of that. Besides, he`s extremely likeable), lovely OST, at times amazing cinematography and SOME of the storylines it presents. Now, first of all, this is my first experience with Ji Sung`s acting and the man gave his ALL. He was believable, driven, mostly accurate when portraying different personalities and he really cemented his acting abilities for me. It was delightful to see such convincing acting in this kind of drama. All the props and I heard he won an award for this role, which he totally deserved. While other positives don`t need explaining, I do however, need to expand upon these storylines and, more importantly, the whole writing aspect of this drama.

One thought couldn`t escape me as I watched this show - there must`ve been several writing switch ups during the writing of the script itself, because it was all over the place. First seven episodes were definitely the most grueling, as they were filled with slapstick humor and questionable handling of the whole DID topic. If I had to compare these episodes to another show, imagine if "Strong Woman Do Bong Soon"`s writer decided to write a script around a chaebol with DID-those seven would be the result of that. From episode eight onwards, up until episode fifteen, it felt like a drama well worth exploring. The conflicts and presentation both excelled in this regard throughout those eight episodes. And then, once again, we hit a standstill until the end where it felt like the assistant of the past writer decided to give his own interpretation a try. With mixed results, honestly. Where both past dramas evaded cliches and/or swerved expectations, this one kept them in. For some, I think they were necessary(like them being childhood friends)but others just felt like an overkill(the whole love triangle, flashbacks, breaking up for drama`s sake and main female lead`s acting all in all). Now, I cannot go any further without discussing the character of Chae Do Hyun`s father. He is probably the biggest glaring mishap in this script. Throughout the show we get snippets of just how menacing he is and this was done well enough, but when the actual reveal happens, his inconsistencies come to light as well. He is remembered as a gentle, good father, who only wanted to escape the claws of his family(which can also be interpreted as irresponsible), only to come back with his son and become a whole different person. Now, where the inconsistencies come is in both his treatment of Oh Ri Jin and the conclusion Chae Do Hyun`s mother comes to - that he apparently loved Oh Ri Jin`s mother. It is glaring because other than the horrible abuse, we never get any other negative motives for his behavior, creating a disconnect. Even worse is I half expected him to get a redemption arc because they were hellbent on showing him as a good person. Which he...isn`t. No matter that he wanted to save Oh Ri Jin, it is a fact that he`s a perpetrator and a horrible human being, period. To be fair, the rest of adults who had a hand in Oh Ri Jin`s and Chae Do Hyun`s tragedy weren`t any better, including her mother. And another thing. I won`t discuss DID representation, as I`ve got next to no experience and some say that it`s good, others say it`s hamfisted. But I was almost shocked to find out some peoplee wanted Shin Se Gi to become a host and I was like:Why exactly? I get it, he gets things done and next to Chae Do Hyun, he gets the most screen time, but he embodies another part of Chae Do Hyun, as in, you`re rooting for a basically incomplete being to win over a really fleshed out one. I liked him too, don`t get me wrong, but not to that extent.

All in all, "Kill Me, Heal Me" is a endearingly good drama tugging on your heartstrings if you`ll let it. But at the end of the day it still has plot holes, an annoyingly average drama female lead and very simplistic view of DID. Still, it`s worth watching to heal your cynical heart.

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