A Perfect Execution of Classic Tropes
As is the trend in kdramas throughout history, this show could be described by some as a collection of tropes, strung together to create a coherent narrative. Usually, that's the sort of thing I really despise, but the way they pulled it off in this show lends me some sympathy. Excellent acting, efficient humor, and an engaging plot line makes this a most effective guilty pleasure. It also helps that they took the liberty to innovate here and there and was ever so slightly more progressive than some of its older counterparts. For those familiar with the kdrama scene, there isn't much more to say.The Korean drama industry has come a long way over the decades, and that is apparent in the level of shows they make today. Flawless production and incredible acting are becoming a given, and I'm here for it. And, while a bit of repetition in the soundtrack is unavoidable due to its length, and the plot was somewhat forgettable overall, it still managed to hold my attention to the end. I think ending the show after 12 episodes was actually a really good idea; it felt like a natural place to end things without spinning up some miscellaneous plot contrivances.
Although the premise is basically a bundle of tropes (office romance, contract relationship, rich guy-poor girl, and more!?) there was some innovation here and there. As with most shows of this type, the uniqueness really shines through the side characters and the second lead. I was also very appreciative that the female lead was actually good at her job (huh!?) and the male lead wasn't an arrogant jerk (a trope which, in my opinion is a little too tired). The family relationships for the chaebols was also well executed and somewhat unique. In the end, shows like these are carried by the actors, the production, and the character dialogue, and Business Proposal pulled through on all fronts. Don't except anything too profound, but I do recommend this show.
Was this review helpful to you?
Maddeningly Good
This show made me mad. Not because it was bad or disappointing (like, frankly, so many of its peers), but because it got me. Hit me right in the heart, and I wasn't expecting it.If you've read any of my reviews you'll know I carry a certain cynicism about Japanese live-action. I often find it to be cartoonish, awkward, and pointless. Countless experiences with shows like these has built up an armor for me, a way for me to relegate any new j-drama as a fun but ultimately shallow pass time, like a Netflix doc that stretches a few too many episodes. So I was caught completely off guard when Glass Heart demanded my attention immediately and didn't let go. Even a frankly cliche few opening minutes carried some magic in it, some hint of secret sauce which Netflix has been using to raise the bar on k-dramas in recent years. And as the show started to weave its plot, to develop its characters, to hint its themes, I was bewildered.
This show is undeniably a j-drama. Traces of their DNA is scattered across every episode: over-earnest protagonists, a genius male lead to outshine the rest, infectious angst, and abrupt monologues in which a character seems to blurt out their deepest complexities like a self psychiatrist. And yet here we find an extra layer of subtlety, a necessary injection of hope and ambition, and most importantly an idea. To make everything worthwhile they've managed to build the show around a group of core ideas, intrinsic facets of the human experience which bear exploring. My unshakeable hate for the "quirky genius ml showing fl the light" trope was finally toppled by the fascinating motif that "the sound of a genius makes ordinary people miserable." What a fascinating, resonant message. I'm so upset.
I have a friend who hates the movie Up. She calls it emotional manipulation. Finally I understand how she feels, because I was swept up so swiftly and completely into the emotions of this show that I couldn't help but feel offended by its audacity. It left me with the same hollow wonder that Your Name did, a certain gaping hole where a mountain of feeling had just carved its way through. I resent it. But I cannot deny that it is the foundation of a truly outstanding show. Well done.
Was this review helpful to you?
A Mediocre Imitation of Something Greater
The potentially interesting (although not entirely original) premise for this movie is not done many favors by the actual content. The often impressive action and hints of the character development and progression of a better movie are muddled into mediocrity by confused writing, unlikeable protagonists, and a cliché villain plot with few tangible stakes. And that's not even mentioning the usually abhorrent visual effects. I'm not usually one to dock a show for it's cgi, but it really trivializes the content, even more than it already is.And really, that's one of the biggest flaws with this movie. One of the core concepts of the premise is that the "Seven Masters" have obtained many mystical abilities through their mastery of martial arts, and that these abilities can be taught to those with enough Qi. But from the beginning, the tone is confused. Initially, the concept and abilities are trivialized, used nonchalantly and played off for comedy. But later on, they are glorified and something to be used with great caution and responsibility. The Seven Masters (although there are only five, somewhat funnily) are viewed as both stereotypical bickering old people and also martial arts masters worthy of great respect. Having this sort of duality is something that can be pulled off, but it's not done effectively here, and the two sides only seem to detract from the other.
By far the biggest asset to the movie is the action: as it should be, for a martial arts movie. The choreography and stunts are for the most part very well done and extremely dynamic. The only problem is the story that contains them. Having great actions scenes is good, but to make them really impactful, you need tangible stakes, rising tension, and emotional investment from the characters. These things are all attempted by the story, but each falls flat in its own way. The stakes are far too grandiose and unexplored to be meaningful to the audience, the tension is messed with when the comic relief starts to detract from the main story, and our characters are too numerous and too unexplored to develop much attachment from the viewer. Even between the two protagonists (in what was likely supposed to be a romance subplot) there is pretty much no chemistry, meaning no investment when fighting for the other.
What I hoped would be the saving grace, was the protagonists. My initial impression was a guy with little skill but a good heart and unshakable morals. However this notion is contradicted time and again as he whines about training, disrespects his teachers and the privacy of others, and even considers fleeing at crucial plot points. It feels like a weak imitation of Karate Kid in a place where there shouldn't be one (keep in mind we're talking about a karate *kid*, who complained once and was done, versus our adult protagonist who never shut up). In fact, the whole training montage was done poorly in my opinion. What's more, there's very little character development, and perhaps he even gets worse from where he starts as the movie progresses. Towards the beginning of the movie, he is obsessed with learning the "Palm Blast" move so he can get stronger. Of course, we expect that by the end that he'll learn that martial isn't about just being strong. Instead, he just learns the Palm Blast move and that's that. Cool...
In summary, let me say this. My drive to continue and complete this movie was singular: the catharsis of a previously weak (but likeable) protagonist learning to be strong and proving his enemies wrong. If you're looking for that, turn back now. If you're looking for a good story, turn back now. If your looking for good characters, turn back now. If you're looking for comedy, you might be satisfied initially, but the story gets more serious very quickly, so I'd say turn back now. And finally, if you're looking for some solid actions scenes... well, I mean, you'll get those, you'd just probably be better off finding them in a better movie. So with that, overall, I will recommend against watching this movie.
Was this review helpful to you?
A Disappointing Romance Drama on the Verge of Being Good
This is a romance with an interesting premise and potential for some great character interactions. Instead what we got was a short, awkwardly paced, and often frustrating experience which couldn't keep it's own momentum. At the beginning we are curious about and rooting for the protagonist, but by the end we are as fed up with her as everyone around her is. Character development jumps lightyears in a few minutes and then drags along for another half hour, and things feel stretched out and rushed all at the same time. Let me explain a little better.My greatest criticism of this drama (although I have many) is the main character. Listen, I love me an introverted character. I'm not even opposed to those that are outwardly rude (as long as they have a reason, like a backstory or mistaken view about life), but I draw the line when said character cannot develop out of their rudeness, at least in a somewhat believable manner. Not to spoil anything, but the main character makes progress in some scenes only to completely regress in the other. Then, later on, certain developments are maintained, leaving you to always wonder whether the current moment of the story will even matter in the long run. If you can call it a long run.
The pacing of this drama is very poorly done. There are only two hours of total content, so basically a movie, and yet they make it seem like a rushed series. We trade in steady and meaningful character development for tropes and backwards plot lines. Why develop characters further into a believable romance when you can totally backtrack things already established with misunderstandings and tropes? Keep in mind, these tropes that are crammed in there are usually meant for 16 hour full length dramas, and aren't things that can be recovered from in this amount of time.
The worst part is that the potential is frequently visible. Every moment of hesitation we see in the main character before she acts out, every honest dialogue that starts between our romantic leads, and every meaningful change in our character's behavior brings a spark of hope that maybe- just maybe- the series is about to pick up, change is about to happen, and the story will get interesting. It doesn't. The hesitation doesn't turn into later not doing it, but instead into the same amount of hesitation. The honest dialogues are, while not forgotten, lacking in emotional impact in later scenes. The meaningful changes in our characters are, more often than not, just reversed later on in the story. And so it hovers in the awful zone of "almost good" where you can't stop watching in case it gets better but it never does.
I am not going to recommend this drama. I find it disappointing. It's not that it's bad, it's just so almost good that it's painful to watch.
Was this review helpful to you?
A case study in failed character endearment
This is not a great show. To be honest, I struggled to finish it, even taking a break for a year or two in the middle. But there's nothing glaringly wrong with it on the surface. The premise is fun, the acting is decent, the production value standard for its release date. So what went wrong?Writing. It always comes down to writing. Sure the dialogue is slow and dry and obvious, but I think there are deeper structural problems which make this a failure in my eyes. The biggest among these is a failure to endear the main characters to the audience. On the surface, it seems an heiress working part-time would speak to humility and empathy, but really she has her own selfish reasons. Ji-yi is nice (and probably the best character) but she has little agency and is mostly nice in the polite sense. The guys? They're both kind of jerks. Jung-gi is a manipulative gold digger who I never forgave and while Chung-su has a heart of gold he never really puts his money where his mouth is.
So why do we care? Why are we slogging through this drawn out mediocre plot with zero interesting developments or unexpected twists? Personally, I was hoping our mc would turn out to be very competent and defeat her foes using her wits and her wiles. Not so. She is bad at her job, and the only good business idea in the whole series is Ji-yi's idea! What! And we never see Ji-yi get rewarded for that either! The mc takes all the credit and now I care even less about her.
But the romance! What about the romance? Meh. Whatever. Started out cute, but once they got together the chemistry just wasn't there. Chung-su was tsundere without the dere. I think he made three expressions of affection the entire show. Meanwhile jung-gi is a demon sent from hell to pray on the innocent. Enough said.
So we spend most of the show fretting over what will happen in these romances which aren't convincing to these characters who we don't like. And nothing interesting ever happens! Needless to say, not a fan. I don't recommend.
Was this review helpful to you?
A solid reincarnation of asadora magic
This show, while not being quite as non-stop progression as Asa ga Kita, or with quite as compelling a protagonist as Tori ni Tsubasa, still manages to capture that magnetic pull the best asadoras have. Despite being more slice-of-life-like (not usually my cup of tea), the incredibly strong cast of characters and persistent themes kept me engaged through all 156 episodes. The show managed to produce and resolve conflicts gracefully, and even did a better job with compelling antagonists than Carnation. Are all the other asadoras I've listed (in my opinion) better than this one? Oh for sure. But I would still classify this as an excellent show. Even if the main character was a bit ditsy and we didn't get to see her grow old.Never could've predicted the ending, by the way.
Was this review helpful to you?
So close to what I always wanted
There's a lot of webtoons which feature reincarnation or possession or "redoing life," which is a trope I really enjoy. Unfortunately, they're usually not quite what I want, and even when they are they can't quite live up to the emotional impact that a drama has for me. But dramas in this category are few and far between. The only other one's I've managed to find are "Brush Up Life" and "See you in my 19th life," both shows which I enjoyed but didn't quite scratch the itch for (although 19th life came very close).What I really want is a show with a talented protagonist using the opportunity to get ahead in any way they can. And this show does that. Fantastically. As soon as the first episode ending I was hooked, and through the first half of the show it was pure bliss. They even started setting a romance subplot which was really fun.
But things started to falter towards the end. Tricks and ideas to foil the villains were reused, the romance got rocky and sparse, and some of the conflicts began to feel like a bit of a slog. I think they could've done with a few more protagonists to keep the viewer invested. When the last episode hit I was livid: super not happy with where they took. They managed to win me back a bit, but I still remain incredibly unsatisfied with the ending. It's made even worse by the sparse chance there's a season 2.
Up until, let's episode 8 or 9, for me this was an easy 10/10. Factoring in the rest of it, especially the last episode, unfortunately brings it down to an 8.5. I would still recommend it, but just... ready your soul.
P.S. The leitmotif for the chairman is simply excellent.
Was this review helpful to you?
Extraordinary, in every sense of the word
As time moves forward, the quality of Korean dramas seems to only increase, and this series is culmination of all that progress. From writing to acting, cinematography to the original score, it's hard to find a single flaw in this show. Add all these achievements to an engaging premise with an unusually inclusive message and you have something truly special. Extraordinary Attorney Woo has accomplished something even greatest minds in Hollywood tend to struggle with: respectful and engaging coverage of a character with autism, acknowledging their differences while highlighting their humanity. Even better, this detail (while important) does not occupy the entire breadth of conflict in the show, encouraging a type of inclusivity based not solely on the story potential of characters, but on their regular existence in our world. In general, being inclusive of those with disabilities can be a risky endeavor, inviting harsh criticism with every mistake, which makes it all the more commendable what has been done here.Of course, a show must be judged in quality not by its efforts to be inclusive, but by the actual entertainment value the show provides. In this area, too, Extraordinary Attorney Woo excels. Like most good television, the show at its core is people and their journey- learning and changing- wrapping into an engaging plot to move us forward. The brilliant legal cases are used as a backdrop to support the moving arcs and emotions that the characters experience, bring the audience right along for the ride. Honestly, the sheer number of character arcs that exists in the show is incredible, not to mention the quality of their execution. And all this impeccable writing is beautifully portrayed by a simply stunning performance by every actor, all captured within gorgeous cinematography and played over a delightful score. The show expertly weaves between tones of lighthearted fun, nail-biting tension, and emotional confrontation, until the end, where every plot line is masterfully resolved in an exciting and fulfilling final episode. Everything is simply outstanding.
This is one of those shows that changes your perspective on media as a whole, a show so good you have to take a bit of time to mourn its ending afterwards. And likely, the kind of show which will induce heavy feelings of nostalgia with just a few notes of the open theme. This is what TV should strive to be. This is extraordinary. I emphatically recommend this show.
Was this review helpful to you?
Fun and Disfunctional
This movie is hilarious, but unfortunately it is lacking when it comes to story and pacing. Comedy is great, but a movie is still a movie. And, although I enjoyed many parts of it, I often found myself confused, whiplashed, or struggling to keep up with what was going on.From the beginning, you're thrown into a scene which is completely bewildering, covering a showdown of inscrutable stakes and between unknown characters. In fact, despite the relatively high pace of the movie, it is quite some time before the second main character and main setting are introduced. In a movie with non-stop action, conflict, or comedy gags, it can be hard to follow along, and many things which the audience should have been told about are not revealed until much later on.
To me, this is like the embodiment of internet humor in film. Random humor, visual gags, and subverting expectation are used ad nauseum, which does provide a frankly hilarious show, but unfortunately comes at the detriment of the story.
Now, this review sounds quite negative, but I must say that I did enjoy the show. To enjoy it, you just have to accept it for its flaws and be aware going in that they tried to cram a whole season of a show into a single movie. As a result, it moves a lightspeed, but it's still pretty darn funny. So, provided you're here for comedy and not story, I recommend this show. And, if it's not funny enough or you do want story, just watch Gintama or something, I don't know.
Was this review helpful to you?
Good for a Miniseries, Poor for a Drama
As a miniseries, this show stacks up pretty well against its contemporaries (excluding some notable exceptions, i.e. Splash Splash Love), but in comparison to "real shows" it's mediocre at best. I'm not trying to hate on miniseries, but they typically have lower budgets, and therefor lower production values and untested talent. They also have to develop an engaging story which fits into a comparatively tiny runtime. Luckily, this show has good chemistry between the leads, a solid premise, and steady romantic progression to hold itself together.Unfortunately, that's where the good news ends, because first and foremost what I thought coming out of this drama was... that's it? Barely anything happened. And not for lack of time; the show was even slow paced! Don't get me wrong, it's better than the series which move so quickly you feel like you put your head in a blender, but I wish there was just a single plotline outside of romance to build conflict and push the story forward. Instead, it felt like they were just dinking around with no apparent stakes or goals. There's a reason many romcoms have pressure from the parents or any number of other external forces to generate momentum in the plot, and that sort of clear progression was what was missing from this drama. Also, the fantasy element had no apparent influence on the plot or the worldbuilding, it was mostly just a detail that the characters noted from time to time. But, other than that, I had no problems with it. It was just meh. Unless you're really bored, I don't recommend this drama.
Was this review helpful to you?
Fun Premise, Forgettable Show
I, like many who'll watch this, came only for the main actress Yonekura Ryoko, who will always be our beloved Dr. Daimon Michiko. And, while I was satisfied by a similar competence and eccentric personality which endeared me to her character in Doctor X, the story itself falls into many traps which Jdramas often succumb to (and where we must admit Doctor X is also often found culpable). These traps being the repetition, the predictability, and the ever-present catchphrase structure.A flaw in writing which I've seen a shocking number of times in Jdramas is the repetition of plot structure between episodes. It's one thing to write episodically, where each episode could be viewed on its own without the rest of the story. That's nothing new, great shows have been doing that forever. The trouble comes when every episodic is basically a copy-paste of the last one. This is something that happened outrageously often in Doctor X, and got worse and worse as time continued. This show had an opposite trend, getting slightly better as the show moved forward, but even by the end every episode was unbearably predictable. And it was made even worse by the catchphrases.
Now, don't get me wrong. I love a good catchphrase. It's something fun for the main character to say which fills the viewer with emotion and excitement, and often a feeling of hope. Used correctly (and infrequently), it can elevate exciting moments even higher. But when you use the same three catchphrases in the same place in every episode, and the same things always follow every catchphrase, it doesn't take long for us to find the pattern. Now, when the catchphrase is spoken, instead of being excited, we feel like we already know what's going to happen for the next five minutes and start to loose interest. Losing interest is bad, that's the opposite of a show's goal. The unshakeable structure of the show and lack of evolution as the series progresses is to its detriment, as everything new and interesting is discovered in the first few episodes, and then it quickly becomes old and stagnant.
Even though we have a cast of characters with interesting premises, there is a lack of execution when it comes to unique character traits. Every character is distinguished by their past, not by their personality, leaving many conversations feeling somewhat lifeless, with people just filling the roles of things that need to be said to move the plot forward. If the characters had more defined personalities, especially ones connected with their well-defined pasts, there may be more vibrance in the dialogue and delivery, as well as more potential for character arcs. That's another thing: there are no character arcs. Unfortunately, that wasn't much of a surprise.
The drama wraps with a main story, one which finally is of some emotional importance to the main character. This makes it stand apart, which is good, but it also could have been set up much better. The premise of the story means the protagonist was aware of it the entire time, and yet it wasn't mentioned or even hinted at in any of the earlier episodes. This means, even if the main character cares about this topic, I, as the viewer, really don't. Regardless, the main issue is still the repetition, a point I'm hoping to repeat enough to show you how annoying it can get. It's like watching a kdrama romcom and hoping to the heavens for a male lead who isn't a perfect cyborg love robot, and inevitably being disappointed. With that rather depressing image in mind, I do not recommend this show.
Was this review helpful to you?
Modest yet Entertaining Wholesomeness (+ a Really Long Review)
I don't think this show will probably blow anyone's socks off, but I also think that not every show has to. And either way, what we have here is something happy, funny, and sometimes even moving. And, while some of the acting perhaps could be better, solid writing and interesting characters manage to make up for it. Our earnest protagonist is loveable (if a bit dull), and her ridiculous antics manage to be funny without causing any harm.The production was all very solid. Nothing too fancy, and you couldn't really call the cinematography artistic, but this is mainly a comedy show and we don't need to expect too much in that area. And in the area of comedy, it delivers. I found myself laughing out loud at every episode. So, even if some could consider this show mediocre in some regards, I still thought it was fun, and it made my day a little brighter. I recommend this drama.
WARNING: From here on out I'm rambling. For a while.
In recognition of the fact that all my positive reviews are very short, I will now take some liberties to list the things I liked about this show. Feel free to tune out if you were just looking to see whether or not you wanted to watch this.
From the get go, I appreciated the framing of the main character. When you have a character which is very charismatic, admired by other characters, or (in this case) somewhat unrelatable for the average viewer, it can be difficult to empathize with the character enough to become invested in them. There are a few ways around this which are commonly employed in modern media. The most common is to use a "save the cat" moment, which is where the protagonist does something good, which endears them to the viewer. However, this technique (especially when used early on, when it's most effective) sets a very clear first impression for the viewer, which is that the main character is someone who is prone to saving or helping others. If your character is generally empathetic but not necessarily defined by that trait, you may not want to leave that impression from the get go. That's where the second technique comes in, the one which was used by this show. Succinctly: "The straight man." Known for being the rational wall to bounce humor off of, straight men can get a bad wrap as shortcuts to cheap comedy, but when used right they can elevate humor or even be used in other situations, like forming a connection with your bizarre characters through the medium of a normal person who inhabits the world of the show. This technique is used very well in this show, with our straight man narrating several scenes, both for comedy and to introduce the antics of our protagonist. Also, having the straight man try his best in the conventional ways helps to highlight the benefits of the protagonist's unorthodox methods, benefits which may otherwise be unclear and lead to the viewer disliking them for simply being stupid.
A common trope in Jdramas and Japanese media in general is the weird but wise old man, who offers wisdom to our characters while engaging in strange, often humorous behaviors. The News Station Director in this show perfectly fits this archetype, but in this case there is some unique revelations which emerge from that. The problem with having a wise character is that it implies that you must have writers who are also wise, which may sometimes be an issue. Luckily, in this case, the writers were able to give the wisdom character several interesting and even surprising pieces of advice and information which changes the way certain parts of the show could be seen. A few words about the necessity of stupid people transforms our view of the protagonist from bumbling idiot to earnest learner who affords new opportunities. This idea then became a theme throughout the series, and in my opinion was pretty well demonstrated by the show. Perhaps you could even extract some societal implication from this message about how everyone has their own worth, but this comedy tv show doesn't choose to dive too deep into that so neither shall I.
The nature of an ensemble cast means balancing several characters, their motivations, their personalities, and (in a good show) their arcs of learning and evolution. While the cast is quite large for under four hours of screen time, the show manages to keep them all straight by dividing them into distinct groups with distinct roles and personalities. Within the television stations, there are the new members and the old, who are also divided by their respective specialties. Then you have the new members, who can also be considered the main cast of the show. While the main character and the straight man are certainly the focus, each of the five new members (and also the weather guy) are given some focus across the series, giving greater catharsis when they all come together at the end. The characters outside of the news stations are so few and specialized that is isn't difficult to keep track of them all. Importantly, while all the characters are in the show all the time, we are given more in-depth instructions of them gradually, and there are no heavy exposition dumps to make us loose interest or start forgetting things. This is also helped by each character having relatively simple yet still dynamic personalities.
To clarify a bit about my note with the acting: Acting is something which can be difficult to judge, and how good it is can be subjective across viewers. It is even more difficult if you're watching something from another culture, where certain actions and behaviors may be more or less common. However, certain things can be seen which cross boundaries as a marker of less-than-stellar acting. Namely: lack of expression. Unless a monolithic appearance is a marker of their personality or a subject of comedy, a character's face will generally need to display a variety of emotions depending on the situation. In this show, some of the actors (especially the lead actress) could be seen to be heavily favoring certain expressions, which is certainly something you'd notice. However, there is a difference between noticing something and having it detract from the viewing experience. In a serious drama, where every scene is carried with a level of weight and importance, having bad acting can pull you out of the scene and ruin immersion. In a comedy show, however, where you are perhaps more removed from the fictional situations, it's far less distracting. In the best of cases, it can even become so bad that it's funny again, in which case the show benefits from it. This is, as for as I'm aware, the main draw of extreme exaggeration of facial expression in many Jdramas. The level of reaction is so absurd that it becomes funny, at the cost of the realism of the character (which may or may not matter, depending on the tone).
In the world of television, shows can generally be described as being entirely narrative, entirely episodic, and then the ones which are a mix of both. Generally, things like sitcoms and weekly cartoons fall into the later category, and this show too, happens to land there. That's where things start getting interesting. A show can change a lot depending on the balance of these two elements. Too much episodic, and the show feels like it's never progressing. Too much narrative, and the viewer might miss something or be bogged down by too many plot lines. This show manages to strike a compelling balance. This is accomplished because the main character is generally static across the show, and other minor characters fit their arcs into a single episode. The only exception in this case is the straight man, who's evolution is natural and predictable enough to probably not be too surprising or confusing for any viewers dropping in or returning after a while. Like other great shows of this type, the show manages to be appealing for binge watching by leveraging the sort of slow burn evolution which gives you just enough plot to draw you in and keep you watching. In the worst of cases this can lead to bitter disappointment as you realize the show will never reach the point that you're hoping for, but in the best of cases it can reward you for your wait while letting you build a connection with the characters along the way.
There's a few spoilers in this part:
I liked the logo of the TV Station. Also, I liked how all the editors wore nearly the same type of classes. Also also, I liked how after the weather man's confidence arc he started wearing different funny costumes for every report. Also also also, I appreciated how they always had so many extras in the studio to give the appearance of a busy workplace, it made the show a lot more convincing. Also also also also, I really liked the camera guys in the violin episode; I think they were pretty cool. Also also also also also, I think a romance between the main character and the straight man would have been way too cliché, and I'm glad that didn't happen. Also also also also also also, I really liked the climax, it was very tense and satisfying to see all the hints and foreshadowing that had been laid out throughout the show come to fruition. Also also also also also also also I liked the scene at the very end with the sheep, it was pretty cute.
Okay, I guess I'm done rambling. That was certainly my longest review ever, although probably not by as much as you'd think. I'm pretty impressed that you managed to read this far, unless you just skipped to the conclusion to see what I'd say. News flash: (haha, get it?) The conclusion already happened, before my rambling. I don't need to do another one. What is this, English class? I don't care. And I can write in fragments too. While I'm at it, a dangling participle was written. And. I. Didn't. Use. Punctuation. Properly. What are you gonna do about it? Huh? I'm probably delusional, based on this review anyway. Regardless, the review is done. Probably.
P.S.
It wasn't, but now it is.
Was this review helpful to you?
A Directionless Stumble
I care about this drama so little I can barely manage to write a review. It was a slog just to finish it, even though it's pretty much just the length of a movie. Regardless of my initial appreciation of the chemistry between the three friends, I felt absolutely no connection with the female lead and saw no clear character motivations brought up among them. There is frighteningly little real conflict or stakes, which wouldn't be too bad if it weren't for the complete lack of effective comedy throughout. Simply put: I didn't care. I didn't care about the characters, or their connections, or the unconvincing goal to return to the past (none of them seemed quite attached to it anyway). Whatever romance there was felt forced and undeveloped, and the female lead basically had no compelling character traits or motivations or flaws or... well, basically anything. I don't have too much against the acting or production, but I really just couldn't care less about any of it. I do not recommend this drama.Was this review helpful to you?
An Annoyingly Predictable but Otherwise Inoffensive MiniDrama
This drama is (unfortunately) completely ruined for me by its predictability. Nothing shocking or unexpected happens, and I can basically guess everything that's going to happen over the entire length. The only reason I managed to complete it was because it was short, and even then I struggled. I suppose it's a testament to other writers skill that they can avoid this one flaw that manages to destroy the entire show.Now, I'm not going to discredit the show entirely. I came here for a revenge plot, and I got one. And maybe it's my own overconsumption of this trope that's at fault, so let's take a look at the positives. The premise is solid, and there's little fluff or filler in the series. The story gets down to business quickly and manages to introduce the characters pretty well and efficiently. The protagonist also manages to succeed in situations due to her own skill, which is nice. The music is actually really good in my opinion, and acting is good enough to surpass suspension of disbelief. Unfortunately, the positives end here.
Obviously, the predictability of the show is the biggest problem by far. Every new idea and premise and character that's introduced has a clear and predictable conflict and ending which is followed to a tee. Tropes and clichés are basically all that exists in the drama, with not an ounce of subversion to be found. Also, some of the actions of main character are a tad questionable, and sometimes she doesn't seem to learn from her mistakes. The premise is that she is returned to the past so she can redo life with more experience, but oftentimes her success still relies on luck and those around her. The romance felt pretty rushed as well, and it was sometimes difficult to discern the protagonist's own feelings on either of the leads. She often felt like more of a passive character than a proactive one.
And really, there's not much more than that, but the massive, gaping flaw at the heart of the story is what really ruined it for me. Perhaps if you're not all that familiar with common tropes or you're willing to look past an abundance of them you might enjoy this drama, but otherwise I will firmly recommend against watching this.
Was this review helpful to you?
A Wickedly Clever Story with Mild Failings in Character
The main thing to note about this drama is the plot. It's the best aspect of the show, and the greatest reason, in my opinion, you'd want to watch it. It's so incredibly clever and convoluted I found myself gasping out loud multiple times. This great story is supported by a strong cast of actors and an iconic score that's instantly recognizable. However, while I was certainly gripped by the endless twists and turns, the show occasionally stumbled on things important to audience retention like tone balance and proper set-ups.First, let me praise (in greater detail) the plot. The style of plot is somewhat like that of a mystery drama, but reframed in the interesting light of the legal world. Crimes and morals are all viewed through the eyes of law students, teachers, or practitioners, which- while occasionally making certain discussions seem unnecessarily obtuse- certainly lends credence to the unfortunate necessity of bureaucracy in a fair legal system. Moreover, the legal element introduces new challenges for our protagonists that we wouldn't otherwise see in a typical law enforcement mystery drama. However, the real draw of the plot is the intricacy of it. Just as you think you've discovered all there is to know, a new piece of evidence comes to light. Just as you think the mystery's been solved, a new witness arrives that changes the entire story. And-in the end- all the relevant evidence comes together to produce a reasonable yet astonishing to conclusion to the number of interconnected mysteries and conflicts present throughout the story. It's quite entertaining, exciting, and gripping, even for those who might not always like this type of plot.
To quickly mention other well-done production details, all the camerawork is good, audio is above average in quality, and the OST is very memorable. The acting, while occasionally a little flat, for the most part conveys incredibly nuanced emotion in complicated situations, and serves the character development well. Said character development is present in those characters with nontrivial flaws, and for the most part reaches a satisfying conclusion by the end.
Unfortunately, while this drama excels from a plot perspective, there are certain aspects essential to story telling that don't quite hit the mark. First of all, the tone is mostly very dark. While there are some much welcome moments of comedic relief, we often get long stretches of incredibly serious (and potentially tedious) dialogue and exposition. I watched this drama weekly as it was coming out, so I was not exhausted by this, but for those looking to binge the series I would be cautious and mindful of your own tonal preferences. I do not view the dark tone as a blanket negative to the show (in fact it may be a draw for some viewers) but I personally would have appreciated more balance in this area.
Secondly, and most crucially, is a lack of setup for many characters. While the plot is given an exciting kick off right from the start, this leaves almost no time to introduce the somewhat large cast of characters, the setting they're in, and their personal morals and goals. This becomes troublesome when the character becomes involved in something critical to the plot, because by then it's difficult to even remember their name. It's especially sad since certain characters would likely have had quite interesting introductions had they been given one. Notice how I said certain characters; this brings me to my last point.
I have found a certain degree of inconsistency among characters. Some characters are portrayed realistically, with interesting and human flaws that influence their decisions and interactions. Other characters are portrayed as gods amongst men, doing no wrong and containing vast intellect and encyclopedic knowledge, no flaw in sight. If it were one or the other, I would have no problem, but since the two are mixed together it seems to invalidate the struggles of the more flawed and unfortunate characters. It also leads to the discrepancy in character development we get between characters, as some characters are already so perfect as to be immune to further development. It offers an interesting insight into why flawed characters are more compelling, as it is difficult to connect with those characters who are perpetually right and therefor difficult to root for them. It also leads to a certain dissatisfaction with any character development of the flawed characters, as no matter what they accomplish they will never be as perfect as the others. Characters who are both flawed and extremely smart in the series prove that we don't need the perfect characters, and yet they must exist.
In conclusion, we have a vividly fascinating show which is at the same time intricately constructed and poorly established, just in two very different areas. We can say it is an incredible plot marred only by inconsistencies and missing introductions of characters, a wickedly witty work worsened only by tone too tumultuously tense. With that I will conclude that I do recommend this drama to those with even the slightest of interest in mystery and intrigue, with the caveat of a warning to those averse to overly serious tones.
Was this review helpful to you?
