Lots of fun
I’ve seen some crazy premises in K-dramas before, but this one wins the waffle iron. Are we to believe that Someone-Up-Above has given a young, deceased girl (the ghost) permission to stick around on earth inhabiting various female bodies in order to lose her virginity? Because she couldn’t manage to do it while she was alive? And–oh, by the way–if she can’t get it done within a period of three years, she’s going to pay a HUGE penalty–she’ll be turned into an evil spirit? Have I got that right? Who makes these rules anyway?There’s a cross on the door of the ML’s apartment. But it’s hard for me to imagine that the Virgin Mary would approve of these shenanigans.
After a bumpy beginning, the two FLs–the original owner of a certain body, who’s a sensitive, timid kitchen assistant secretly in love with the chef, along with the boisterous, somewhat obnoxious ghost looking to get laid–agree on a plan. They’ll share the body and work together to seduce Mr. Wonderful, the aforementioned chef.
The idea is that one girl gets the guy. And the other gets an all-expense paid ticket to the great beyond. Winner, winner, chicken dinner.
At least that’s the original plan. Of course things soon go awry, when...(Sorry! You’ll have to watch the drama to find out what happens).
Does this drama have depth and nuance? Is it great theater? Nah. While the premise is bonkers, the implementation is pretty entertaining. I laughed and kept watching, which is more than I can say for some other series that tried to be funny–and weren’t. I especially liked the arrogant chef, and his interactions with his crew. He was hilarious. And most of the main characters were quirky and beguiling. Both FLs were likeable and fun–even Bong Seon, the inhibited introvert, who’s (at first) afraid of her own shadow.
Lots of familiar faces in this drama. I was so happy to see the cute and sprightly Lee Jeong eun playing the part of a spirited Bodhisattva/Shaman. She’s such fine actress and she did a superb job here.
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Don't miss this one
Skillful acting makes this series a success. This drama is worth watching if only for the sake of the impressive range of Kim Nam Gil who plays Heo Im, a Joseon doctor who transforms from youthful arrogance to clownish clutziness to heartwarming tenderness to heroic competence without missing a beat.The secondary characters are mostly effective, and there are even a couple of lovable animals--in particular, a certain baby pig that steals every scene he's in.
The pacing is good, the plot moves along and (mostly) doesn't drag-although there's a little too much hand-wringing and wailing in the last two episodes. But just when you think you know where things are going, the writers pull a switcharoo and send things reeling in an unforeseen direction. I like that in a drama.
Is it worth a watch? Absolutely.
Now--for the not-so-good. No series is perfect and this one's no exception.
1. The product placement is a little too in-your-face for me. Would a man who had lived most of his life in the Joseon period really be amazed and delighted by the excellence of packaged noodles? Maybe not so much.
2. Throwaway characters. The stellar acting of the main couple make it easy to overlook the minor characters who are treated unfairly. Everyone should be a three--dimensional human being, even if the viewers only get hints of who they are or what their ultimate fate is.
For example, there's an orphaned brother and sister that the main couple meet in Joseon and travel with for a short period. The kids are passed off to some random guy who seems to know them. We never find out what happened to them. There's also Mak-Gae, Heo Im's loyal 15-year-old assistant. In her case, it's out of sight, out of mind. After a certain accident, instead of showing concern, the main dude goes chasing after his lady love...leaving Mak-Gae to fend for herself.
3. Metaphysical inconsistencies. The "rules" of time travel are confusing. Conveniently, it turns out that physical wounds are healed when someone leaps through the chronosphere. Got a sword thrust through your belly? Not to worry. You can die in the past and emerge unscathed in the 21st century. Except it doesn't always work that way. Someone gets slashed in the back and, whoops!, it turns out, time travel doesn't heal all wounds after all.
4. Other contradictions. It's not clear why some of the older characters, who seem to have been back and forth from Joseon previously, can make authoritative pronouncements about the "rules" of time travel-most of which turn out to be malarky. The ending is another head scratcher. First Heo Im goes away, and then he comes back. Choi Yeon-kyeong accuses him of being unreliable, although the viewers just saw that the return was a complete accident. Instead of straightening her out on this point, Heo Im acts like he made some kind of deliberate choice. OK, maybe they're just joking around, but whaaa? This also would be a good time to mention that he accidentally brought someone else along with him. But no...
Still, I give this series a solid eight stars.
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Characters need therapy
Another series that takes 50 episodes to portray a simple mis-communication between two equally confused and immature characters. The drama is stirred up by the advice, threats, and manipulations of the people surrounding the main couple. Lots of problems with this series-mostly, a lot of tired old tropes. They get together, they're driven apart, they get together, they're driven apart. Ho hum.1. I'm SO TIRED of being told in K-dramas and C-dramas who's pretty, who's handsome, and who's ugly. And there's a whole lot of that going on in this series. Let the viewer make up her own mind. No one person gets to decide what's beautiful for the rest of us.
2. Shan Cai. This actress who plays her looks and acts like a 12-year-old and pouts like a 7-year-old. She's as charismatic and assertive as a wet noodle. Si keeps calling her "stupid." Is she? Anyone who knocks on the front door can push their way into her home. Anyone who says they want to be her friend, is treated like her best buddy. Si grabs her, takes her things, puts his hand over her mouth, pulls her this way and that, slaps her--and she just lets him do...whatever. Is she madly in love? Who knows? Her standard expression is blank, and the kisses between her and Si seem really contrived.
Her idea of a fun date is to feed her face with, not one, but four obscene desserts slathered in whipped cream and syrup while Si watches in disgust-and this girl is a nutrition major. No matter how many of the other characters call her "fierce" or "incredible," she isn't. I read that Dylan Wang wrote a letter to Si when the series ended. Among other things, he said, "I don't understand one thing. Why don't you just get another girlfriend if she's so indifferent to you?" He has a point.
3. Si. This dude (the character, not the actor) is seriously disturbed. He's rigid, violent, abusive, and a bully. But he's sometimes the only person speaking truth. He's right when he accuses Shan Cai of dodging questions, being evasive, and changing the subject whenever he asks her a straightforward question. He's frustrated, and I don't blame him.
4. The couple together. Their toxic relationship is ruining the lives of everybody around them. Wake up Lei, Meizuo, and Xi Men Yan! Don't let these crazies mess up your entire college experience.
Here's what needs to happen. Shan Cai should say: "I appreciate your good qualities, Si. You're loyal, generous and brave. But if we keep going like this, ten years from now, we'll either be divorced or one of us will be dead.
She should add two things:
A. Please deal with your crazy mother. She has to stop trying to intimidate-or destroy--me and my friends. Just get it done. If that's not possible move out of your family's house. Otherwise: good-bye.
B. From now on--no violence, no bullying, and no physical abuse. When I say, "Stop!" you need to stop. And you'll treat the people in our lives with kindness and respect. Got it? In return, I promise to answer your questions in a straightforward and honest way.
5. I'm a little disappointed with Dylan Wang. A socially retarded and emotionally damaged dude finds his one true love, manhandles and bullies her. There must be other scripts out there that can show-off this guy's amazing acting skills.
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Korean Drama at it's best
What I liked:1. I almost missed this marvelous series because–who wants to watch a drama about the daily grind of a bunch of ordinary office workers in a large corporation in Korea? I gave it a try because of the high ratings, and I’m so glad I did. This story is absorbing.
2. It’s hard to single out any one actor because everyone’s work was outstanding. How Ling Sun-min is able to convey a whole world of emotion with his poker face is almost beyond comprehension. Im Si-wan’s acting was also remarkable. His character and confidence level subtly change as the story progresses.
3. The plot was unpredictable, but believable–at least until the ending, which I’ll get to below.
4. Another great feature is that the cast consists (mostly) of characters who look like ordinary people, not glamorous movie stars.
What I didn’t like:
1. Hey guys! Movie makers have an unwritten contract with the audience. If the film starts out as a horror film, it shouldn’t suddenly change into SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS. If it begins as a musical comedy it shouldn’t suddenly turn into a crime drama.
Sure, surprises within certain boundaries are fine, but you don’t undermine the fictional world you’ve set up by pulling the rug out from under the viewers. This series does that.
For some reason, the directors decided to change things up at the last moment. And suddenly we were all watching RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARC.
Next time wait until the credits roll before you move on to the next project. I deducted one star because of episode 20.
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Netflix hits a home run
I’ve been waiting for months to be able to give an enthusiastic endorsement of a (recent) K-drama. Now I can. This series is laugh-out-loud funny. But it also has more depth and originality than the fare we’ve been served up lately by Netflix and others.It’s nice to see a female lead in a K-drama who shows some agency and energy. Some of what she does is misguided, but so what? She’s a fully formed human being. I can think of other series–IT’S OK, THAT’S LOVE and MY DEAREST come to mind--featuring strong female leads. But most K-drama heroines seem like passive players in their own lives. Not this one.
Woo Do-Hwan commands the screen and gives a nuanced, affecting perfomance.
Crazy hilarity abounds. Some of it works, some–not so much. Nobody’s perfect in this drama. Characters hurt each other–but eventually understand that the secret to a meaningful life is to love another flawed person more than yourself. (Nobody hits you over the head with this message–but it’s subtly implied.)
Because the writers are willing to take risks, believability flies out the window here and there. Another problem is with the editing. There are a lot of slow sections that could have been tightened up. I loved the way the soundtrack moved from classical, to folk, to rock. I especially liked the music played when the credits rolled at the end of each episode--always a pleasant surprise. Kudos,
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Breezy and cheerful
This one is strictly for fun - breezy, cheerful, and playful. A bit of mind candy for anyone who needs a break from the soul-draining rigors of romance.It's such a relief to see a female lead who uses her powers to right the wrongs suffered by damsels dating dastardly dudes.
OK, it was a bit over the top. The FL's fighting chops were on a superhuman scale, and the second couple's courtship was so abbreviated I barely had time to register it.
But thanks again, Netflix, for giving us a female-centric story with a strong lead (mostly) devoid of victimization, weepiness, and heartbreak. Loved it.
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This review may contain spoilers
Odd Couple
A young, handsome, brilliant, clever, kind, patient, generous, monogamous, honorable, mechanically proficient, streetfighting adonis who likes to cook and clean–and who also has a superpower--falls madly in love with a cranky, narcissistic, self-centered, lazy, not-too-bright, arrogant, indifferent, rude, cold, ungrateful, ethically challenged, and slovenly public defender.And this is supposed to be a match made in – one of those places whose name starts with “H.” More like a fantasy cleverly constructed to hook impressionable teens (of the female persuasion).
As for the acting–the villain was sufficiently scary and despicable to hold my attention. And the ML managed to breathe conviction, authenticity, and adorableness into his character. The young women commenting on the top left corner of my television screen certainly thought he was the bees knees. In fact, they seemed completely besotted with him–poor babies! One of them typed, “Oh, Sweetie! When you get tired of her, come live with me!”
The FL’s performance, on the other hand, was overwrought, over-acted, and downright silly in places. She had to work awfully hard at being awful. (But some of this was probably due to the impossible script–not to any lack of talent on the actress’s part.)
The court cases dramatized in this series were apparently chosen to highlight the ethical enigmas inherent in the legal system. But each case was totally bizarro--fraught with conflicts of interest–and a boatload of complications. Frankly, I couldn’t get worked up about any of them. The timeline was also weird–with some suspects being rushed to trial before the blood had dried on the murder weapon (metaphorically speaking). One loathsome character had murdered at least three people and tried to kill a number of others, including a child–and yet everyone felt sorry for him. Well...everyone except me.
Each time the camera focused on the jury, the jurists were nodding, shaking their head, and otherwise expressing their premature judgments for all the world to see. Yikes!
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Like a car crash I couldn’t look away from...
The contradictions in the fantasies being sold to young girls have never been as in-your-face as they are in this K-drama. But the mesmerizing acting of Seo Hyun-jin somehow holds this hot mess together.Her love interest is a robotic, poker-faced, rich dude who suffers from the “disease” of face blindness or prosopagnosia. Not to worry. He’s found his perfect mate in the FL, who suffers from a condition that changes her into some random-looking specimen of humanity every so often–be it a child of 10 or a sore-encrusted old bald guy.
Whatever the case, folks, True Love conquers all. The most ludicrous scene in this series is the pledge of eternal love between the ML and the aforementioned bald guy. Not that bald guys aren’t lovable! But even Lee Min-ki, the ML, who has serious acting chops (see his performance in BECAUSE THIS IS MY FIRST LIFE), can’t bring himself to gaze enthusiastically at his newly transformed sweetheart. There’s a Japanese proverb that says: “If there is love smallpox scars are as pretty as dimples.” Ah! If only it were true.
The other over-the-top romance--like an impending car crash you can’t look away from--is between an actor who could pass for an sweet-faced 14-year-old boy and a troubled, but fabulously rich older woman. To be fair, it’s not clear how old these two are supposed to be. (In real life, they’re almost the same age.)
The dialog between these two is beyond idiotic. “I’m bad, but you’re good.” “I love you because you’re so pretty.” Not since Scrooge McDuck have the rich been such an easy target. As in most K-dramas, they’re all greedy and offensive. But there’s hope for those who recognize True Beauty.
More than once, my suspension of disbelief was hanging by a thread over the Grand Canyon. When the FL transforms from one body to another, do her clothes change with her? The 10-year-old’s duds conveniently enlarged when s/he changed back into adulthood. Not so with some of the other transformations.
The schmaltzy song that played over and over and OVER in the background getting louder and louder and LOUDER was enough to drive me screaming into the night.
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This review may contain spoilers
Plot Problems
The most amazing, incredible piece of good luck that has ever happened to anyone anywhere occurs at the beginning of this series. A human being comes back from the dead!Everyone is celebrating, hugging each other, and dancing in the streets. Right?
Nope.
Instead we are treated to crying, wailing, gnashing of teeth, and rending of garments (two sisters actually rend garments with a pair of scissors in one scene). Episode after episode after episode of misery and regret. As others have said, this series is slooooowww.
If you find yourself asking: What’s gong on here?
I've got an answer for you.
Product placement. Capitalism at its finest, folks. It's one long advertisement pummeling your unconscious brain.
But I digress. Back to the trauma and the drama...
If you've ever lost someone and want to revisit that aching sorrow at the unfairness of death-have a go at HI, BYE MAMA.
But wait! In the middle of this sob-fest, they, the producers, realized that this was all too much, so they sent two of the ladies zooming off in a hot car for an afternoon of ziplining. Then back to the never-ending tragedy of life.
Other viewers have criticized the feckless males and their total incompetence in the face of so much female grief. But I thought Lee Kyu-hyung rocked as the hapless, depressed husband who always does the wrong thing.
And then there's the repetitious dialogue. "I feel guilty." "I'm to blame." "No, you haven't done anything wrong." "I'm sorry." "I am so sorry." Sob, sob, sob. The point is not to have a logical plot. The point is to keep viewer's neurons susceptible to the main message.
Speaking of the plot: the holes are big enough to swallow the planet Jupiter, so I won't name them all-just a few. Why was that creepy exorcist out to kidnap little Seo-woo? Just to recruit her for Shaman school? Really, deities? What kind of a world are you running?
Is it really worse to see a few ghosts here and there, than it is to grow up without your "real" mother in your life?
As for Seo-woo, when the series opens she's four--but 49 days later (towards the end of Yuri's stint as a revivified human) Yuri says she's six. OK.
Then there's the episode where the three main characters attack another group of mothers at the preschool with paint and assorted objects. And no one gets expelled? And Yuri, the employee, doesn't get fired? I've worked at preschools and, generally speaking, they frown on employees who attack the parents.
Apparently Yuri doesn't care for shamans. But when you see that Mi Dong-daek has to justify the rules of the Big Bosses to the hoi polloi while corralling the chaos-I, at least, had sympathy. No wonder the deities are having a recruiting problem. Who wants to herd ghosts for a living?
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Rejection Galore
In this series, everyone gets rejected by somebody–either by their parents or by the one they love. Some of the characters keep loving anyway, others harden their hearts against humanity. There is a convoluted plot, but it always seems secondary to the pain of rejection, which plays out in all its different colors.The ML is a powerful “master” with a coterie of faithful devotees–one in particular who’s the favorite and therefore subject to more abuse than the others. Of course, Master needs the love of a good woman to melt his icy and (often) brutal heart. For some reason, Chinese film makers seem to think that cold, cruel men are appealing to women viewers. My question is–why?
During 9/10ths of this series, the ML is insulting, threatening, and just plain mean to the FL, who puts up with everything he throws at her with good grace and a cheery smile. Another male character denigrates and insults his female love interest--and even goes so far as to rape her–but all is forgiven in the end.
From time to time the FL visits the frozen castle? cage? in which the ML’s lonely soul is ensconced where she confesses her love and concern. The ML may seem like a monster to some, but SHE knows he secretly has a heart of gold. Give me a break!
If you liked THE LONGEST PROMISE and LOVE BETWEEN FAIRY AND DEVIL, you’ll probably like LOVE OF THE DIVINE TREE which “borrows” elements from both and melds them into a precarious whole. It’s rife with magical objects, evil spells, a dragon, and even an adorable kitten who doubles as a ferocious tiger when it gets its dander up.
For me, the last five episodes were like a death march. Does every single dying character need to make a speech before they go?
This fantasy is well-larded with CGI, sometimes convincing, sometimes not-so-much. Personally, I’m a sucker for special effects no matter how poorly done. And, while this story can be repetitious and/or silly and drags a bit, the special effects just keep coming. Is this a serious drama? Nah. But if you want a weepy tearjerker that takes you out of the real world (and don’t we all), this might be a good bet.
My favorite unintentionally funny English subtitle:
Yu: “I have no choice but to walk down this path until I reach the very top.”
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Appealing and entertaining
I recently watched a Korean series that had some of the same problems that ROOFTOP PRINCE has–overused cliches, lack of logic, unbelievable plot. But I didn’t dislike ROOFTOP PRINCE as much as I disliked that first series. In fact, I quite liked it. What’s the difference?1. First, ROOFTOP PRINCE was made in 2012. Some hokey stuff (going to an amusement park, watching fireworks, riding bikes) that have since been done to death--were still fresh back then.
2. The ML and FL were so playful and likable that they added something new to every trope.
3. Big chunks of this drama were zany and madcap and not supposed to be taken seriously. Yes, the actors also overacted in places when they should have been playing it straight. And the plot didn’t always make sense. None of this bothered me, although I’m guessing it will bother other viewers.
It was such a joy watching the uptight, authoritarian prince get his due from an enlightened, modern Korean girl. It was hard not to fall in love with both of them. Both leads played off of each other with ease and affection.
I’ve never enjoyed secondary characters as much as I have the prince’s Korean sidekicks. In most series, the secondary characters are annoying or poorly written or fillers that add nothing to the plot. Not here. Each of the guys was hilarious and irresistible.
One of the things that DID have a weird vibe was the way the ML talked to the FL. He called her “stupid,” “vulgar,” and said he wanted to “rip her mouth out” among other things. He did this with kind of, sort of, a twinkle in his eye–so you could convince yourself, if you wanted to, (and I wanted to) that he was just teasing because he actually liked her so much. It didn’t seem to bother the FL that he was saying these things. She even gave it back to him in spades. So why did it bother me?
Here’s why. Because some men start out by making inappropriate remarks in a teasing way–and later, when the relationship is under stress, they’ll say it again – only this time, no one’s laughing.
Still, there was plenty of evidence that our ML was a decent guy who would take good care of the FL, if given the chance. So I put my reservations aside.
In the second half, the story became more plot driven. The writers gave us a lot of half-baked, nefarious scheming by the villains–schemes that our ML and the FL (especially) should have been able to anticipate. But they didn’t-- which frustrated me and made both leads seem a bit doltish.
Nevertheless, overall this is an entertaining series. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
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Lots to like
Our hero, the feckless ML, feels that he can’t win in the game of life–that he’s been dealt a hand of deuces and treys. So life (well actually I should say Death) puts him in a TRULY no-win situation.Did I say “no-win”? This is the King of no-wins. He can’t even solve this particular dilemma by dying.
DEATH’S GAME starts out as a male-oriented thriller, with non-stop action, and plenty of violence and gore. Keep watching, though, because this series isn’t easily categorized. One episode has horror film vibes; another fills in the details of the romance introduced at the beginning. Whatever. I guarantee that you won’t complain that it drags–more like a cage-full of squirrels on speed.
What really sets this series apart from others are the excellent special effects, along with some amazing camera work. One shot (pun intended) lets the viewer look at a certain character through a bullet hole that’s just penetrated another character’s head.
If you prefer a narrative with more sophisticated characters and a nuanced view of reality, you might think DEATH’S GAME isn’t your cup of tea. The minor characters are mostly sterotypes, especially the villains. But the ML grows and changes–and the focus is mostly on him.
If you look at the plot too closely, you’ll notice some inconsistencies. For example, it’s not clear what happened to the original inhabitant of each of the bodies the ML took over. Some of the rules of the game seem to change over the course of the series. And I personally didn’t appreciate the demonization of people who commit suicide. Some, no doubt, are selfish, like the ML. Others are sick. And still others have an intolerable life situation.
A crow is blown to pieces in one episode. I see anti-crow scenes like this in a lot of dramas these days. Please, guys, stop setting a bad example by encouraging people to torture and kill these amazingly intelligent birds (look up the research).
You may notice some familiar faces in the minor roles. Kim Mi-Kyung as the mother and Oh Jung-se, whose versatility always amazes me, are just two I recognized.
The pluses totally outweigh the minuses in this series. Nine stars.
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Entertaining and watchable
Four items that work well in this drama:1. I appreciate the racially diverse casting in a couple of scenes.
2. Neither of the two leads is perfect. The plot is mostly believable and the characters likable.
3. Well-paced. So far the story hasn’t dragged.
4. Woo-joo is to die for–a 10 on the cuteness scale
Four items that could have been improved:
1. Too many stale tropes – the small scrape that requires a bandaid applied by the male or female romantic interest, sharing an umbrella in the rain, a work competition in which the female shows her abilities, serious car accident, etc. etc.
2. Exaggerated embarrassment when both leads end up (fully clothed) in the same bed. The over-acting made this scene a bit unbelievable.
3. This drama passes the Bechdel test, but just barely (look it up).
4. The FL seems indifferent and inconsiderate of the ML, a wounded soul who deserves better.
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Life is unfair
This series has a message it wants to ram home, which is mainly directed at women.It’s this: you should always be able to take care of yourself because you never know what might happen, who might try to undermine you, or even betray you. Life is unfair.
The FL learns in the first episode that her husband has been having a long term affair with a woman who’s now pregnant, who wants to replace her as her husband’s wife. The husband seems perfectly happy to let this happen.
So, Miyu, the FL, a woman with no education or work experience, divorces him and goes looking for an entry level job.
At this point, some Asian dramas like to imply that if the female lead (it’s always the female) grits her teeth, endures her burdens with grace and fortitude, all will turn out for the best. Every once in a while, one character or another pounds this theme home–in case the viewers have missed it.
The FL finds work at the elegant Purong Hotel, where she’s subject to daily indignities, mild bullying, and other unfair treatment. Another theme of this series is how the lower level employees of the hotel are blamed for everything that goes wrong. And they in turn, blame someone even lower than they are on the totem pole.
But the FL actually likes her job. She finds a few genuine friends and allies, and strives to please the remote, mysterious Feng Ji, General Manager of the hotel, who often corrects her (trivial) mistakes and criticizes her.
It soon turns out that the success of the hotel is hanging by a thread. Everything depends on–wait for it--SHEETS! Will a certain hygiene problem be solved? Or will the hotel’s dirty laundry be exposed for all to see?
The main rule of storytelling is: keep the viewer engaged.
And I’m still engaged, although slightly bemused by this absolutely silly plot development
Later (episode 28): I still don’t feel much warmth for the ML. He seems to be a cold fish, someone who can express negative emotions when necessary, but struggles with the positive ones. Does he feel anything for the clever and beautiful FL? Or does he have ice water in his veins.
Another thing that’s tiresome is the way the two leads treat the rich guests at the hotel. Both the ML and the FL find immense satisfaction in devoting their lives to making the moneyed classes ever more comfortable than they already are. Really Miyu? Really Ji Feng? This is how you want to spend your one precious life? Obsessing over laundry, pastry, and carpet stains?
Well, maybe not. I’ll check in again later to see if either of these folks have had a change of heart.
Epsode 31 – Well...finally. Things have taken a turn.
But...a little bit later–it’s back to the real business of this drama, which is–BUSINESS. Does Miyu have what it takes to go into sales? I guess we’ll find out. The poor girl may have to start at the bottom...again.
Eps. 34 has my favorite scene. Our two leads quarrel--and to emphasize how far apart they are (metaphorically speaking), we see them separated by an elevator door, which closes slowly...once...twice...as many as five or six times. Loved it.
Meanwhile, product placement and industry accolades are creeping into the dialog, eulogising the merits of pickles, AI, and robots. I’m hoping this story won’t turn into an advertorial, but I fear it might.
Last episode. Whew! No. A fine and fitting conclusion. The ML shows that he can man up when necessary. And everyone gets what they deserve, although we, the viewers, need to hear the moral driven home yet again.
P.S. Special shout out to the villains, who never get the appreciation they deserve, especially: Jing Chao (so hard to hate), and Zhang Yi, who looks like he would be lots of fun in real life.
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Threw in the towel
I’m a huge fan of IU’s work, especially the funny and heartwarming HOTEL DEL LUNA and the absolutely brilliant MY MISTER. So it makes me sad to report that this series, PERFECT CROWN, is far from perfect. I finished Episode 3 and (like many others on this site and elsewhere) dropped it.The problem isn’t so much with IU’s acting as it is with the character she portrays--a vapid, self-centered, arrogant narcissist. I just didn’t like her and didn’t want to spend more time in her company.
It’s possible to create a multi-faceted, slightly villainous, FL who’s intriguing, enticing, and even likable–but the writers didn’t do that here. Maybe she shows another side later in the drama, but I can’t wait around to find out. Sorry.
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