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The first two episodes were fine and good. I was definitely surprised by how decently good the special Sci-Fi effects were. This is something that always worries me when watching dramas, especially Japanese ones. So I can confidently say, this drama has had the best effects from all the Japanese ones I have watched. But once the surprise wore off, I started to become bored. I just didn't care whether Ando Asahi lived or died. Also, the whole concept of the drama as to why she needed to live, not buying it. Nope. Ando Lloyd may have had more human emotion than I do. *shrugs*
So, I'll just say...
Ando Lloyd wasn't that bad. The acting was decent and the effects were good, but it was boring, except when they were using atomic disposal and stabbing/shooting/dismembering each other. Those parts always got my interest.
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Sayonara Kunou Totono
First, Suda Masaki as Kunou Totono was so much fun to watch. Most of the supporting characters were fun too, Kadowaki Mugi as Raika was a close second favorite.The premise of the story featured an eccentric, friendless male lead who went around running into murderers and criminals, and sometimes even befriending them along the way. That alone made for a story with a lot of potential for success, but Kunou-kun was also a foodie. For me, it made the story even more fun. Here was this eccentric genius just trying to eat his curry, and every single time, he seemed to be interrupted because of reasons…
At first, the cases were interesting and had my full attention. I really enjoyed the way the characters were introduced and how it seemed that most of it was interconnected. However, when the arsonists’ story came around, I thought it was lacking. This was mainly because of the terrible acting from the actors portraying Roku and Kaneto. It was truly cringeworthy and really put a damper on my enjoyment. The arc wasn’t over soon enough.
In the later episodes, the story seemed to become a jumbled mess because it was not told in a linear manner from a certain point on. This is not to say I can’t enjoy stories not told in a linear manner; I can. However, this one felt disorganized and chaotic. The ending was a mess too. It seemed like most things were not resolved. They didn’t even tell us Kunou-kun’s full story. Who is he? Where did he come from? What happened in his life? How did he get that scar? TELL ME.
Also, I am sick of the use of the “Ave Maria” in OSTs. There are so many other songs out there; please use a Gregorian chant or something. I miss those.
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“The Doctor’s Best Kept Secret to Cure Insomnia”
DISCLAIMER: I watched this as a part of a recommendation challenge which is why I didn't drop it.What did I just watch? Or better yet, what did I just sleep through? Instead of Parallel World, it should be titled “The Doctor’s Best Kept Secret to Cure Insomnia”. No sleeping pill works as well as this. I also remember calling it a “crack dream” at some point. The beginning was extremely slow. So slow, I kept falling asleep. When I didn’t go into a deep slumber, it was because I was multitasking, so I might as well have been asleep. I tried to keep up with the story, but by episode 10 I gave up on all pretenses and just kept the episodes running, occasionally looking up from my phone. I did try to pay attention a few times afterwards, but the result was just me falling asleep. The drama had sand zombies, pew pew, parasitic flora, golden snakes, and so much other stuff and it still bored me…to a narcoleptic-like sleep. I did enjoy some of the chicken parts though. There were also parts, probably due to censorship and trying to remind people not to look for the Jade Gate, that seemed like they were popped there randomly. Yes, the CDL and older man scenes. I was like “Girl, why are you here too?”
I felt, at the beginning when I was actually trying to pay attention, that NiNi’s character was extremely childish and I did not enjoy that. None of the characters moved me and I did not care about their struggles. I was right about one thing I remember thinking before passing out “these guys are probably manipulating her”. I only remembered one OST https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Upvt_ac5IY and it’s because it’s sung by Liu Yu Ning, and even then it’s not really his best OST. But after searching for the rest, these did match the dull atmosphere of the drama.
I am grateful to this drama for one thing though. I tried watching the final episodes after finishing another extremely tragic show, but I fell asleep. Something I thought I wouldn’t be able to do after that other drama. And trying to recall parts of the drama while writing this made me want to take a nap. So, I will stop here.
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Beautiful Portrayal
Ever since I heard of a Gong Yoo-Seo Hyun Jin pair up, I have been looking forward to The Trunk. I was cautious since most dramas I have watched this year have been mediocre, to say the least. But the K-drama gods came through this time around and I was not in the slightest disappointed. After watching, the first episode, I considered not going to work to watch the whole show in one sitting which I didn't do, but wished I had done so I could have finished this faster.Gong Yoo and Seo Hyun Jin's portrayals of two very broken people was heartbreakingly and miserably beautiful. I loved the acting, their chemistry, the main support character's roles and the OST. While watching , I did not cry, but I felt like I was holding my breath, anxiously awaiting where the journey would take, not only the main leads, but also me. However, in the last 30 minutes or so, I began to crack me and in the last 5 or so minutes, my tears would not stop.
My main complaint would be that the flashbacks were a bit confusing in the beginning. Although once you got used to these, it was easier to discern at what point they were by noting which characters and locations appeared on the screen, I also wonder if this almost seamless, confusing element was done in this way on purpose to drive the point home. As the past merges with the present to show how the events that took place in the past have an impact on the present and even the future if this issues are not addressed properly. My second complaint is that Yoon Ah and Hyeon Cheol's parts felt unnecessary.
Still, I thoroughly enjoyed this and hope GY and SHJ meet again in another beautiful drama. 9.5/10
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