This review may contain spoilers
Misery vs Happiness
This drama is a love story of two people with an age difference. At times that can be problematic, but not to the extent the writers went in this drawn-out drama. At first, it captured me with the sweetness of two people falling in love. Then I realized that all they were going to do is throw 18 hours of misery at a couple struggling in a relationship. 18 hours of suffering matched with 3 minutes of happiness at the end doesn’t work. It leaves the person watching with the misery of the 18 hours, not the 3 minutes of joy.However, I thought the acting was fantastic. Son Ye Jin was superb as always. So, I binge-watched the 18 hours and enjoyed the drama, but the story itself left me wanting more. The fact that I feel this way tells me that the foundation of the story was good. If only the writers understood the need of the viewer for a better ending. I loved the music.
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A masterpiece of epic proportions
I know my bio says I like romantic dramas but it also says I’ll watch anything if it’s well done. This drama was a masterpiece. Non-stop action from start to finish. Fight scenes, hand to hand combat and mass brawls. You don’t come across many that keep you immersed every episode. Be ready to binge watch all eight. One of the best action dramas I’ve ever watched and that includes all nationalities. What more can I say.The acting was superb especially Han So Hee’s performance. Her role was so critical to the overall success of this drama. From her fight scenes to that beautiful love scene, she was just brilliant. Park Hee Soon was also great playing the standup mob boss. We can’t mention acting without a shout out to Kim Sang Ho, one of the best supporting actors in the business. Every drama he’s in just seems to do well. There wasn’t a single weak performance in this drama. Mega kudos to all the actors/actresses.
Watch this one if you dare.
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A macabre love story
A macabre love story that will plunge your senses into the dark depths of bewilderment. Two violent men, on the opposite sides of the law, love a woman who has never felt the emotions of love. Which one loves her more? Which one will prevail? To find out, watch this exciting tale of love and death.As usual, Jun Ji Hyun is outstanding in portraying Hye Yeong, the young, innocent artist who wants to experience love. The challenges of this character were way above the norm. Expressing yourself without speaking is a talent, and Ji Hyun has mastered every challenge she’s ever faced.
The two MLs played their part to perfection. Try to decide which one she should be with as you watch. Even after watching it I’m not sure I made the right choice.
This drama is also a lesson on not listening to your coworkers. The depth of stupidity for the plan they hatch out, will boggle your mind.
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A Touching Story of a Unique man.
A beautiful real-life story of a man who lived his life to the fullest despite all obstacles. It will make you feel good, it may even make you want to be a better person. I was pulled into the story, and it felt like an honor watching it.Both Hwang Jung Min and Jun Ji Hyun were outstanding in this drama. I’m always amazed watching the growth of Ji Hyun as she demonstrates , once again, her ability as an actress. I am on a movie marathon of Ji Hyun movies and this one didn’t disappoint me. She plays a woman following and recording the story of a unique man in the final year of his life. A simple plot for a touching story that has to be done with respect. It’s well worth your time to give this a watch.
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A Beautiful Story of love between two worlds
Finally a romance that kept me on the edge of my seat. One of the most interesting, emotional, and heart wrenching dramas I’ve ever watched on K-Dramas. The star packed cast was just superb. This series had romance, humor, drama and suspense. I laughed, I fought off tears, I felt the emotion of every scene and I saw the birth and growth of a beautiful love. It was like watching the blossoming of a flower from a seed to a garden of beauty.Jun Ji Hyun was just amazing in this series. She is beautiful, funny, athletic and serious, when she needs to be. Above all that she has great chemistry in her romantic scenes. She has some of the best comedic timing I’ve ever seen. She is the total package. I was really surprised by her talent. I can’t believe it took me this long to see her in a drama. When she walked up the red carpet in that white dress in the final episode it took my breath away. I’ve played that scene about ten times and it will remain one of my favorite scenes of all time. It culminated into the most anticipated kiss I’ve ever seen on the screen.
Kim Soo Hyun was also terrific. He was the perfect pick for the part of an alien. He has the look and the stoic facial expression that he’s perfected over the years. I’ve seen him in other dramas so I know he has talent and a great smile.
As I watched this drama unfold I found myself getting immersed in the story. The changes in their relationship as they grew closer pulled me deeper into an emotional trap. I could almost feel the chemistry change as Song Yi realized her feelings. Min Yoon’s gradual changes as he fell in love with her were something to watch. I was watching an alien learning to love.
The story was interesting without any fluff or needless scenes. When one episode ended I couldn’t wait for the next.
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Never forget it’s the story, not the acting.
Everybody has heard the expression, “Only In The Movies”? Well, this drama will brings meaning to that in every way you can think of. You will never meet a woman, on screen, who is more naïve, unaware, weak, trusting, shy, and just totally oblivious to the world than the female lead in this drama. Excuse me if I missed one of her attributes. She gives in to everybody, never says no and has little if any self esteem. Men take advantage of her and even her best friend gets her to agree to give her a chance to win her boyfriend. Never have I seen a woman more vulnerable than Risa. She’s like a moth to a flame, but she is sweet and innocent. And, she has a nice smile.So, if you want to see this incredible woman, give this drama a watch. Forget about the obsessive boyfriend, it’s not his fault. She was there in front of him and he swept her up like dust on a sheet of glass. She willingly gave herself to him and after a while you begin to think it might have been a good choice.
I read so many negative reviews about the acting but I thought it was great. There is no plot in this drama so the acting is just scene to scene. The dialog means nothing so don’t blame the actors. I don’t think it’s as easy as you think to play the naïve virgin type for the entire drama. She can’t drop her persona for even a second or it all falls apart. The cheesy boyfriend has the same problem. He has to stay in character every scene. If you don’t try to find an actual story you may see some actors and actresses who may be in a future blockbuster. Just saying… It could have been an audition drama.
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A great medical drama concept gone bad
I love medical dramas. They are best when they have some romance in them but I’ve noticed it’s hard for writers to blend the two together for some reason. The stars in this drama were spectacular. The acting was great and I wasn’t disappointed by anyone’s performance. However the storyline was a little weak. Medical Top Team wasn’t much for teamwork so the name really didn’t fit until the very end of the drama.The character development was strange at times which changed everything. The show started with a conflict between Dr. Seo and Dr. Park. From that interaction I expected either a future romantic connection or a medical blend of the two, but neither really happened. Dr. Park Tae Shin’s character never wavered the entire drama. He was strong and committed to his idea of what the Top Team should be. This made him the focus of the entire drama. Midway through the drama Dr.Seo Joo Yeong’s personality changed and she became a different person on a mission that was never really made clear other than maybe personal greed. She ignored the Top Team and did her own thing. From that point on her presence in the story changed in my opinion. I felt myself not liking her. Dr. Han Seung Jae, aka Chief Han, led the team until he went on a self fulfilling mission of his own, which I might add was never really explained.
The story felt like it was modified from an original. There were too many holes that were never explained or so confusing that they were hard to grasp. The best I can say is it was a good story gone bad.
Finally I should say something about the romance. Two couples were pushed into a romantic connection late into the drama. I say pushed because very little foundation was formed before their romantic involvement. The romantic attempt between Dr. Seo and Chief Han was sad. First of all, I didn’t like either character by the time they decided to add the romance to the drama. They had no on-screen chemistry and every time they met romantically it felt awkward. Other than an occasional smile Chief Han demonstrated very little romantic ability. Most of the time when he was with Dr. Seo he was drunk or passed out. I’ll give Jung Ryeo Won credit, she oozes romance on screen when she wants to, but it just didn’t work in this drama. The other couple, Dr. Park and Dr. Choi were marginally better thanks to Oh Yeon Seo’s performance. But it felt like a high school crush most of the time.
I was drawn to the screen in anticipation which is a good thing. However, the story felt like it was pieced together or modified at the last minute.
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A Short Drama with a new star
A short action drama about espionage and military school, with a tiny taste of romance thrown in. The storyline was a little disjointed and hard to follow at times. I think this was made worse with the short episodes. The drama felt like a test for Jung Ye In’s first main role in a drama. All things considered, I think she did pretty good. It’s an easy watch and worth your time to see how this Kpop star does in her first time out. I love to see new actresses and I will never be critical of there debut efforts. Where has she been since? Let’s get her back to work.Was this review helpful to you?
Coffee and Romance. What more could you ask for?
A cute romantic show about a couple who doesn’t fit together at first glance. As the shows moves through its paces you will smile as you see love bloom against all odds. Their relationship wasn’t the normal one you see every day but it will make you believe that all things are possible. The acting was fantastic. I enjoyed all the side stories and their actors. Watch this drama when you want to enjoy a show that makes you feel good. No pressure just full on enjoyment.The romance was great from beginning to end. There wasn’t smokey chemistry but there was an undeniable connection between the main leads that grew each episode. It was fun to watch. Don’t miss this one.
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Great romance with a unique storyline
Every once in a while, a TV series comes along that keeps you immersed the entire way. This story was one of those. It was unique, the acting was good, and the music was great. The story pulled me along in anticipation, the best kind of drama. The characters were well thought out and complemented each other. I felt the coming together of a family formed from a common unknown element that kept you hanging on each word. I liked Ye Ji-won’s performance as Jennifer. Shin Hye-sun and Yang Se-jong also did exceptionally well with their roles.Also, the subtitles were perfect. That means a lot when you rely on them. With subtitles, you rely on facial expressions, emotions, music, and action. With English-speaking shows, I can instantly tell when the acting is bad. With non-English shows, the actual spoken words aren’t as crucial to the person who doesn’t understand the language. I have to compliment Viki as one of the best subtitle producers I’ve ever watched.
I highly recommend this series. It was fun, entertaining, and full of romance and unique drama.
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Great Female Lead
I would like to say I watched this series because I played soccer in high school, but the truth is, I watched it so see Park Yoo Na. The soccer was a plus, but the underlying romance was the draw in this short series. Young Jae broke the golden rule of relationships. Never go out with a girl your best friend is interested in and then try to act like you were with her first. You will end up losing your best friend and best friends are rare in life. Cha Sun Woo might have been a little slow on the draw, but he eventually left the lasting impression that counted. Yoo Sun Woo saw through the deceit and backstabbing of Lee Young Jae and made her way to the right man. Two hearts, one for soccer and one for her. I can totally understand that. However, I don’t think I would have remained best friends with Lee Young Jae. Once bitten…Park Yoo Na was great and played her part to perfection. It was a fun watch and I recommend you watch it too.
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Strange Romance
This entertaining series brought a few different twists to the internal strife of an IT company. It was easy to watch, and I found myself binge-watching it over three days. Since I come from an IT background, this was right in my wheelhouse. The acting was good, especially Lee Min Jung’s portrayal of Na Ae Ra. The story was believable and had some twists that made me feel good. When Cha Jung Woo left the CEO position of his company, it made him look good when we were all expecting him to cave into the toxic whims of the family controlling the company. However, the story did take him from a strong CEO back into a different character that wasn’t very manly. But I took that as part of the comedy element. I like that they worked to bring closure to each character in the story.However, the birthday party at the end was a complete disaster to the story. It didn’t make Ae Ra’s character look very good. In fact, it felt more like a betrayal than anything else. It left me wondering if she would do that after they were married too. Gook Seung Hyun’s character spent half his time destroying Jung Woo and the other half going after his woman. Why would Ae Ra, who supposedly loves Jung Woo, attend a birthday party that rubbed salt in the wounds of that relationship? When Jung Woo protests over the phone, she hangs up. It makes you wonder what happened at the birthday party and left me with the feeling that Na Ae Ra thought that was the right way to treat a man when you’re in love. It just didn’t fit. Even when she finally accepted his proposal, she did it in a weird way that wasn’t funny to me. The last two episodes diminished the strength of Jung Woo’s character and his relationship with Ae Ra. I found myself just feeling sorry for him and wished he would go his separate way. Ae Ra didn’t look very appealing at this point. I read about ten reviews on this show, and I think I’m the only one who felt this way. I can only say that I watch shows because of the romance. I tend to pick it apart when something doesn’t fit.
That’s the ups and downs of a story that will keep you entertained. It’s worth watching. You decide and let me know what you think.
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Chae Soo Bin at her finest.
Some would say the storyline is unbelievable, but the fantastic acting pulled it off and made this one of the best shows I’ve seen. Chae Soo Bin’s portrayal of a robot was just beyond words. Her eyes speak without saying a word. Her smile lights up a room. They couldn’t have chosen a better actress to play this role. If you want to see if an actress is into her role, watch them kiss. A kiss from this show made the top 12 list on the internet, but that is only a small part of Chae Soo Bin’s acting ability. She knows how to develop a love story with her facial expressions and body language. Her presence on the screen is compelling. This show was entertaining and captivated me for every episode. I highly recommend it.I don’t speak Korean, so I rely on the acting, the music, and the sub-titles when I watch a show that’s not in English. I’ve watched thousands of romantic based movies and TV shows because it’s a genre that fascinates me. Maybe I’m one of those eternal romantics. I hope my review was helpful.
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Seo Hyun Jin at her finest
This may have been Seo Hyun Jin’s finest performance. Her portrayal of Oh Soo Jae, the top lawyer at the TK law firm, was flawless. There was mystery, suspense, excitement and some romance. You will be captivated by her blend of strength, beauty and intelligence. From the moment she walks on the screen until the last moment she is in total control.She portrayed a strong female character from start to finish. I love watching strong female leads and she didn’t disappoint me in this fantastic drama. I was captured by her presence on screen and I was totally immersed in the story. Each episode had interest and excitement so the episodes flew by for me.
I’m a romance junkie and Seo Hyun Jin is one of the best in the business showing on-screen romantic chemistry. Some feel the romance was unnecessary, but I disagree. It blended her betrayal from a flawed marriage into hope for the future. Romance wasn’t the focus of this melodrama so it gave the viewer a feeling that some happiness can be found when the world is swirling around you in chaos.
The story of people in power taking advantage of people weaker than them was well constructed and left you with thought provoking moments. Is the concept overused? No concept is overused if the script is well written. In my opinion, this drama was a masterpiece.
I couldn’t stop watching which is a pleasant indicator that I’m watching something good.
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A light romantic comedy
If you want a light and beautiful romantic comedy, this one is for you. Sure, some parts were shaky, and characters I think were overdone, but I liked this series overall. The story of an arranged marriage or engagement under a written contract is an overused concept, so when I watch a show like this, I expect something different, unique, or special. Well, I got special this time, and I couldn’t be happier. This show was a masterpiece by Yan Zhi Chao in her debut performance. I was amazed that she could carry this complex female lead so well. I can’t wait to see what she does next. I thought Chen Jing Ke also did a great job with the male lead.Some C-Dramas are slow and drawn-out with repeated scenes, but the 30 episodes in this one flew by for me. Each episode was relatively short, so I think you’ll find them easy to watch. I binge-watched it, so that’s a good sign that it kept my interest.
The story itself was a struggle to watch at first because the ML was constantly browbeating, punishing, humiliating, and abusing the FL. That doesn’t make for good comedy or drama, in my opinion, so I struggled to watch it. The problem is, you can’t build up a weird, sadistic character like that and expect it to melt into a romance. They ran the risk of tearing the character down to the point of no return. It reminded me a little of the show Full House, which I didn’t particularly like when I rooted for the side character and was disappointed when he drove off and left the FL with the ML. But they pulled this one together just in time. In my opinion, the strength of Yan Zhi Chao’s character Zhou Jian Qing pulled it together. She was super.
The supporting characters each did a good job adding to the storyline. My favorite was the woman who played Gu Nan Zhou’s mother. Not sure who she was. FL’s brother was a little overbearing. What man in his right mind walks into the home of a complete stranger, even if the door was open, and walks into the bedroom? He had no idea his sister was even there. Normally in most societies, that would get you in big trouble. Zhang Yin had that eternal puppy dog look, but his character was always pleasant, giving everything some balance.
Jian Qing is constantly pressed by interfering people. I’m not sure which is worse, the overly aggressive brother or the assistant/wanna-be boyfriend who is always around. He comes off as needy, but he seems to be a good guy, so I ignore him. I won’t even mention the female assistant to ML, who can’t seem to disappear. The second level relationship between Jian Qing’s brother and her best friend is slow to develop. As with most long Chinese dramas, I know I have to be patient.
Near the end, and, still, I’m not too fond of Gu Nan Zhou, but I like Jian Qing’s brother even less. Why does he think he has control over his sister’s life? It feels like he is overplaying his part when he talks. He doesn’t act like a brother. He acts like a controller. There is nothing, and I mean nothing endearing, about him. He treats his sister like a commodity. Little did I know he would soon surprise me.
One of the pluses of watching Chinese TV series is the unusual architecture you can always count on seeing. I loved the unique structure of the apartment building the ML lived in, and I even screen captured it. His office building is even better. Ahh, the little things that make a show better.
Subtitles:
If you don’t care about subtitles, ignore this paragraph. Translations turn into subtitles, and occasionally I take the time to talk about them. The subtitles in this one were a little strange. When two people are talking, and one decides to leave for whatever reason, they would normally say, “I’m leaving now” or just “I’m leaving.” I don’t know what part of the world says, “I’ll make a move first” or even “I’ll leave first.” The only time you would say. “I’ll leave first” is when who is going to leave first is in question. “I’ll make a move first” is just strange. I don’t know; maybe other English-speaking countries use that term. I see it a lot so it must not be uncommon.
Another one that bothers me is “I’m into you,” which is slang and flippant. I’ve only seen that term twice in all the shows I’ve watched, here and in Birdie Buddy. If you ask someone if they are “into you,” it usually means something sensual and can get you in trouble, or you may even get a laugh. It rarely, if ever, means love or like. It’s slang and makes me cringe hearing it coming from ML. Also, I never heard it said that a man has a good figure. You would normally say he has a good body. Women have good figures.
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